Ampem Darkoa Ladies' dream of reaching the 2023 CAF Women's Champions League final was shattered following a 3-2 penalty shootouts defeat to Sporting Club Casablanca at the Laurent Pokou Stadium in Ivory Coast.
Sporting Club Casablanca secured their maiden final appearance at the continental competition after a victory over the Ghanaian side in the semi-final game on Wednesday night.
The ‘Nana Mma’ lads commenced the game with an intensified pressure on the Moroccan side which aided them to open the scoring through a spot-kick in the 5th minute.
16-year-old defender Comfort Yeboah brilliantly handed Ampem Darkoa the lead in the 5th minute when she elected herself to struck the spot-kick awarded to them firmly into the back of the net.
Ampem Darkoa Ladies looked comfortable as they exercised their attacking muscles with the hopes of extending the lead but it turned futile courtesy the backline of Sporting Club Casablanca.
Sporting Club Casablanca levelled the score when Comfort Yeboah connected a cross delivered by Aguiessa Diarra into the her own net on the 28th minute of the game.
The Ghanaian side continued with an impressive performance to restore their lead through a stunning strike from Jennifer Owusuaa to end the first half with a 2-1 advantage at the Laurent Pokou Stadium.
Ten minutes after the break, Sporting Club Casablanca snatched the equalizer from the spot when Aguiessa Diarra step up to convert it brilliantly for her side.
The remaining minutes of the game couldn't produce the match-winner which forced it into thirty minutes of extra time.
After lack of additional goals in the 30 minutes of extra time, the match entered into a penalty shootouts which the Moroccans secured a 3-2 win over Ampem Darkoa Ladies to reach the final.
Moroccan side Sporting Club Casablanca will face Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies of South Africa in the final on Sunday while AS FAR of Morocco take on Ampem Darkoa Ladies in the third-place match.
