CAFWCL 2023: Ampem Darkoa Ladies lose on penalties, miss out on final against SC Casablanca
Ghanaian champions Ampem Darkoa Ladies missed out on a place in the final of the 2023 CAF Women’s Champions League after losing on penalties to Sporting Club Casablanca on Wednesday night.
Nana Joe Adarkwa’s side missed three of their spots one more than that of their Moroccan opposition as they suffered a 3-2 loss in the shootout after playing out a pulsating 2-2 draw in 120 minutes of action.
Comfort Yeboah, Latifa Abesik and Ophelia Serwaa Amponsah all missed their kicks in the build-up to the defeat.
Comfort Yeboah got things rolling for Ampem Darkoa Ladies after just six minutes played stepping up to convert from the penalty spot to give them the lead.
The penalty was awarded after the ball came off the hands of a Casablanca defender after Jennifer Owusuaa’s attempted dribble.
Despite going down, the Moroccan side took control of the game thereafter and took the game to the Ghanaians as they forced goalkeeper Charlotte Adjei into excellent saves.
However, the Ghanaian side saw their goal cancelled out with goalscorer comfort Yeboah finding his own net this around for the equaliser.
The joy for the North African side was short-lived as Jennifer Owusuaa grabbed her first goal of the tournament with an absolute belter from 25 yards out.
She took advantage of the goalkeeper’s poor positioning to beat her from a long-range and restore Ampem Darkoa’s lead.
The 2-1 was enough for the Techiman-based side heading into the recess.
Casablanca came back from the break mounting pressure on the WAFU B champions and got the reward as they scored from the penalty spot after a foul in the 18-yard box.
The rest of the game saw both teams create several chances but failed to convert any of those chances with Casablanca coming the closest.
Ampem Darkoa held their nerves and took the game to extra time where there were still no goals recorded with the game heading to penalties.
The Nana Mma were unable to take advantage of the missed kicks by the Moroccans as they fell to a 3-2 defeat.
Ampem Darkoa Ladies will now be hoping to finish on a high when they challenge for third place against ASFAR Club.
Earlier in the day, Mamelodi Sundowns clinched a 1-0 win over ASFAR Club in the other semi final game to book a spot in the final.
The South African champions will be playing in the final for the third consecutive time after previous appearances in 2021 and 2022.
They also won the title in 2021, beating Ghanaian side Hasaacas Ladies in Egypt in the maiden edition.
This year’s final is scheduled for Sunday, November 19.
