Bayelsa Queens staged a dramatic comeback to beat Burkina Faso’s USFA 2-1 on Tuesday and book their place in the final of the WAFU B Women’s Champions League qualifiers.
The Nigerian Women’s League champions had entered the semi-final as overwhelming favourites after cruising through Group B with a perfect record, collecting wins over Ghana’s Police Ladies, Benin’s Sam Nelly and Togo’s ASKO.
But they were given an early shock when Burkinabé champions USFA, who had only managed one group-stage victory to scrape through behind hosts ASEC Mimosas, opened the scoring inside two minutes through Comfort Yeboah.
USFA’s bright start threatened to derail Bayelsa Queens’ momentum, but the response from the Busari Ishola-tutored side was swift inside the Stade Charles Konan Banny.
Star forward Shakirat Moshood delivered a teasing cross into the box, which Emem Essien met with a precise header from close range to level the contest before the quarter-hour mark.
From then on, the game turned into a fiercely contested battle, with USFA holding their own against the favourites.
Bayelsa’s attack pressed relentlessly, but the Burkinabé defence stayed organised, frustrating the Nigerian champions for large spells.
The breakthrough finally arrived just past the hour when Janet Akekoromowei pounced on a loose ball at the edge of the box and rifled home what proved to be the winner. The goal capped an impressive personal display from the big forward who had several other chances in the encounter.
USFA continued to push for a response of their own, but Bayelsa held firm to protect their lead until the final whistle.
The result ensures the second appearance in the competition’s decider for the Nigerian side, who lifted the trophy in 2022 and are now eyeing another continental ticket.
Friday’s final in Abidjan will pit Bayelsa Queens against hosts ASEC Mimosas, who swept aside Police Ladies 4-1 in the other semi-final.
Victory in the final would hand Bayelsa Queens a place in the CAF Women’s Champions League proper.
