The head coach of Ampem Darkoa Ladies, Nana Joe Adarkwa, believes his side will progress to the CAF Women’s Champions League next season following their failed attempt last year after failing to win the WAFU Zone qualification series.
The Nana Mma were crowned champions of the 2022/23 Malta Guinness Women’s Premier League following their triumph over Hasaacas Ladies last Friday at the Dr Kwame Kyei Sports Complex.
Ampem Darkoa won 5-3 on penalties after playing out a 1-1 game after 120 minutes of action in the final having seen goals from Doris Boaduwaa and Ophelia Serwaa.
The scoreline was a repetition of last season’s final at the Accra Sports Stadium and also means the Techiman-based side will have another opportunity to aim at playing in the Champions League later this year.
To represent Ghana at the third edition of the competition, Ampem Darkoa Ladies would have to win the Wafu Zone B tournament and Joe Adarkwa says his team is ready to do that.
“Last year was our first time, and we have learnt a lot from what happened over there with Bayelsa Queens,” he told Citi Sports.
According to him, adding quality players to his current squad will be the main focus as that will ensure their participation.
“Playing the final against Hasaacas Ladies, we now know that we have to beef up the squad, so we are working on certain players and I am confident we will get them,” he added.
We will go with a good squad, so we can play and get to the tournament proper, that is, the CAF Women’s champions league.
“With this same crop of players, we can’t do anything over there, although we have quality amongst them, but we are going to do add-ons to the squad.”
After Hasaacas Ladies exploits at the first edition of the CAF Women’s Champions League where they finished second after losing to Mamelodi Sundowns, Ghana had no represent last year as Ampem Darkoa fell to Nigeria’s bayelsa Queens in the final at the Wafu B qualifying series.