Women’s Champions League qualifiers (WAFU Zone B): Ampem Darkoa in winning start
Ghanaian champions, Ampem Darkoa, Ladies got their CAF Champions League qualification campaign off to a flying start with a 4-2 victory over Togolese club Amis Du Monde in the West Africa Football Union Zone B tournament last Sunday.
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The victory put them on course for a ticket to the third CAF Women’s Champions League to be held in Cote d’Ivoire in November and will need to defeat Atletico FC of Cote d'Ivoire on Friday to move into pole position in the Group B table.
In 2022, Ampem Darkoa's aspirations were dashed after succumbing to a 0-3 defeat against Nigeria’s Bayelsa Queens during the final of the WAFU Zone B qualifiers.
This year, however, Ghana's representative are on a mission to secure qualification at the zonal competition in Benin City, Nigeria.
Last Sunday, the ‘Nanamma’ put their best foot forward with a solid performance in their opening fixture against the Togolese side at the Samuel Ogbemudia Sports Stadium to send a strong message to their group rivals.
Red-hot Amponsah
Forward Mary Amponsah was in devastating form in her side's four-goal haul, finding the back of the net twice in each half as the Ghanaians stamp their dominance in the game.
Mary Amponsah with her Player of the Match award
She opened the floodgates barely a minute into the game with a clinical header but the opponents scored the equalising goal in the 17th minute before Amponsah took charge of affairs and restored Ampem Darkoa's lead with her second goal four minutes later.
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She completed her hat-trick 10 minutes after recess for a comfortable 3-1 lead before scoring her fourth goal in the 65th minute as Ampem Darkoa run riot.
Amis Du Monde made frantic efforts to reduce the deficit as they scored a second goal in the 84th minutes but the Ghanaians were guilty of many wasted scoring opportunities and held on firmly to the two-goal advantage till the final whistle.
For her exceptional performance, Amponsah was adjudged the Woman of the Match.
The win saw the Ghanaians rise to the summit of the Group B table ahead of their second group game against Atletico FC on Friday at the Samuel Ogbemudia Sports Stadium
Other results
In the Group A opening match, Nigeria’s Delta Queens defeated Burkina Faso's USFA 3-0 despite being reduced to 10 players early on.
The Nigerians were numerically disadvantaged after Vera Samuel was sent in the early minutes of the game but they still persisted to earn a crucial victory over USFA.
Today, Amis du Monde will play against Athletico of Cote d'Ivoire in a Group B encounter, while USFA take on Sam Nelly of Benin in Group A.