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| Image credit/CAF Women's Champions League |
Ghanaian champions Ampem Darkoa Ladies made a flying start to their 2026 CAF Women's Champions League campaign, coming from behind to thrash Mali's USFAS Bamako 5-1 at the Suez Canal Stadium in Ismailia, Egypt.
A brace from Angelina Yeboah inspired Charles Anokye Frimpong's side to a commanding victory after Oumou Koné had given the Malian champions an early lead.
Nancy Amoh, Patricia Agyei and Beline Nyarkoh also found the net as Ampem Darkoa scored five unanswered goals to claim all three points and move to the summit of Group B.
The Ghanaian champions, who secured the tournament's final qualification spot just four days earlier following a resumed extra-time replay against Nigeria's Edo Queens in Cairo, made a difficult start against the Malian side, officially known as Union Sportive des Forces Armées et de Sécurité (USFAS).
Koné opened the scoring in the 11th minute, punishing hesitant defending to put USFAS ahead. The forward was familiar with facing the Ghanaian side, having scored a hat-trick against Ampem Darkoa while playing for AS Mandé at the 2023 tournament.
However, Frimpong's team responded impressively, using their pace and attacking width to stretch the Malian defence.
Their persistence paid off in the 28th minute when Amoh delivered a dangerous low cross into the penalty area, allowing Yeboah to turn the ball home from close range and restore parity.
Ampem Darkoa needed just three more minutes to complete the turnaround. Defender Agyei pushed forward to capitalise on a loose clearance before firing home to give the Ghanaian champions a 2-1 advantage at the break.
USFAS attempted to fight their way back into the contest after the restart, putting Ampem Darkoa under pressure in the opening stages of the second half.
The Ghanaian side, however, remained disciplined defensively and gradually regained control, waiting for opportunities to exploit the spaces left behind by their opponents.
Their patience proved decisive in the closing stages.
Yeboah struck again in the 78th minute, finishing clinically to double her tally and put Ampem Darkoa firmly in control.
With USFAS pushing forward in search of a response, the Ghanaian champions took advantage of the gaps in their opponents' defence. Nyarkoh calmly converted in the 83rd minute to make it 4-1.
Amoh then capped an outstanding individual performance by finding the net in the fourth minute of stoppage time, completing a five-star display and sealing an emphatic 5-1 victory.
The result sends Ampem Darkoa to the top of Group B on goal difference, ahead of Ugandan debutants Kawempe Muslim Ladies.
Kawempe had earlier produced one of the tournament's biggest surprises, defeating two-time champions and defending title holders AS FAR of Morocco 3-2 in Monday's opening fixture.
Ampem Darkoa will return to the Suez Canal Stadium on Thursday, November 5, when they face Kawempe Muslim Ladies at 17:00 GMT.
A second consecutive victory would put the Ghanaian champions in a strong position to secure a place in the semi-finals.
USFAS Bamako will take on AS FAR earlier that day at 12:00 GMT, while Ampem Darkoa will conclude their Group B campaign against the Moroccan giants on Sunday, November 8, at 16:00 GMT.
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