WAFU Zone B Women’s Champions League qualifiers: Ampem Darkoa on rampage, book place in final

Ghana's Ampem Darkoa Ladies established their credentials with a 6-1 hammering of  Sam Nelly FC of Benin on Monday, August 28, to reach the final of the WAFU Zone B Women’s Champions League qualifiers in Benin City, Nigeria.

The Ghanaian champions have enjoyed an amazing run in the competition and yesterday, it rained goals at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium as Tracy Twum, Mary Amponsah, Ophelia Serwaa Amponsah and Nancy Amoh took turn to register their names on the score sheet to send the strongest message of intent ahead of the final against Nigeria's Delta on Sunday, September 3.

Delta Queens fought from a goal down to defeat Athletico Abidjan 3-2 in the other semi-final game yesterday.

In their impressive run to the semi-finals, Ampem Darkoa showcased their dominance with remarkable victories against fellow Group B contenders Amis Du Monde and Athletico Abidjan, with star striker, Mary Amponsah, as the focal point of their attacking machinery as she scored all their seven goals over the two matches.

In yesterday’s match, however, it was the turn of Twum to step into the spotlight with a hat-trick, while the rest shared a goal each.

Tracy Twum with her Player of the Match award

The match was barely one minute old when Twum opened the floodgates for Coach Nana Joe Adarkwah's side as she singlehandedly cut into the opponents half from the flanks to score with a tap-in. She was on hand again to give her side a 2-0 cushion in the 11th minute, forcing Sam Nelly to replace their goalkeeper to avoid conceding more goals, but it did not stop Mary Amponsah and Ophelia Serwaa Amponsah from increasing the tally as they headed home a goal each to take a healthy 4-0 lead into halftime. 

The Benin side fought back strongly after recess and scored in the 54th minute to reduce the deficit but it only served as a wake-up call for Ampem Darkoa who went on the rampage again as Amoh scored with a left-footed shot to the blind side of the Sam Nelly goalie to make it an unassailable 5-1 lead. 

Twum completed her hat-trick in the 69th minute and capped a memorable day with the Player of the Match Award and a ticket to the final, with the winner of Sunday's match earning a slot to the CAF Women's Champions League tournament in Cote d'Ivoire.