Nigeria, Sept. 6 -- NWFL Champions Bayelsa Queens suffered an agonising 8-7 penalty shootout defeat to hosts ASEC Mimosas in the final of the WAFU-B Women's Champions League Qualifiers on Friday, and only for the second time in history, Nigeria will not be represented at the CAF Women's Champions League.

At the Stade Charles Konan Banny in Yamoussoukro, the Prosperity Girls were dealt an early blow when Ami Diallo struck for the Ivorians in the sixth minute. But Bayelsa Queens responded quickly, with Emem Essien levelling in the 18th minute to restore parity.

From then on, it was a battle of nerves and attrition. Neither side could break the deadlock across 120 minutes, and the final was forced into penalties. After a tense 4-4 in the r...