Ampem Darkoa Ladies Crash Out of CAF Women's Champions League After Defeat to AS FAR

Ampem Darkoa Ladies Crash Out of CAF Women's Champions League After AS FAR Defeat

Ghanaian champions Ampem Darkoa Ladies have been eliminated from the 2026 CAF Women's Champions League after suffering a 2-0 defeat to defending champions AS FAR of Morocco in their final Group B match.

The defeat ended their hopes of reaching the semi-finals, despite an impressive start to the competition.
##: How They Exited the Competition

Ampem Darkoa began their campaign on a positive note, recording a convincing 5-1 victory over Mali's USFAS Bamako before defeating Uganda's Kawempe Muslim Ladies 2-1.

These victories placed the Ghanaian side in a strong position to qualify for the next round. However, their final encounter against AS FAR proved decisive.

Goalkeeper Rose Baah initially kept her team in the contest by saving a penalty before half-time. Unfortunately, she was sent off five minutes into the second half, leaving Ampem Darkoa with only ten players.

AS FAR took advantage of their numerical superiority to score twice and secure a 2-0 victory.

##: What Went Wrong in the Group Stage?

Although Ampem Darkoa showed quality in their first two matches, their final performance exposed some weaknesses, particularly in discipline and defensive organisation.

The goalkeeper's red card became a major turning point, putting additional pressure on the remaining players. Playing against an experienced side like AS FAR with ten players made the challenge even more difficult.

The result left Ampem Darkoa, AS FAR and Kawempe Muslim Ladies level on six points. However, the competition's head-to-head tiebreaker rules placed Ampem Darkoa third among the three teams, ending their campaign.

##: What This Means for Women's Football in Ghana

Ampem Darkoa's elimination is disappointing for Ghanaian women's football, but their performance also provides important lessons for the future.

Winning two out of three group matches and scoring seven goals shows that the team has the ability to compete at the continental level.

However, the experience highlights the importance of discipline, squad depth, tactical preparation and consistency when competing against Africa's strongest clubs.

For women's football in Ghana to continue growing, clubs need stronger investment, improved player development and more opportunities to compete internationally.

Ampem Darkoa Ladies will now return their attention to domestic football, where they will aim to defend their Women's Premier League title and work towards another opportunity to represent Ghana on the continental stage.

Their journey may have ended earlier than expected, but the experience offers valuable lessons for the team and the future of women's football in Ghana.