Betsy Obaseki Women Football Tournament Lifts Edo Players On Global Stage – Obaseki

The wife of Edo State Governor, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki, has said that Betsy Obaseki Women Football Tournament (BOWFT) has helped to position female football players on the global stage.
Mrs Obaseki stated this in Benin City at a press conference to announce the 2024 Edition of the Betsy Obaseki Women football tournament, with the theme, “Say No To Teen Pregnancy and Child Marriage.”
The Edo first lady asserted that the tournament was what she conceived in collaboration with private sector partners to groom and empower the girl-child and engender grassroots sports development in Edo State and Nigeria.
Obaseki added that the tournament is borne out of her passion to create opportunities to inspire the girl-child, while promoting causes that raise awareness about social vices.
She said, “It is Nigeria’s only preseason women’s football tournament and has continued the tradition of promoting women’s football through a two-week long socially conscious programme that brings important issues to the front burner.
“Since its inception in 2020, the tournament has grown remarkably, making a significant impact by providing a platform for our young girls to dream big and pursue their passions and aspirations, while showcasing the incredible talent and potential of these girls to the rest of the world.
“Beyond nurturing our local talent, the tournament has also helped position our female football players on the global stage with many of the girls from the past editions of the Betsy Obaseki Women’s Football Tournament representing Nigeria on the international stage with distinction.”
She increased the prize money for the overall winner of the competition from N7 million to N10 million.
According to her, three of Edo Queens’ players are presently part of Nigeria’s Falconet team flying the nation’s flag and added that the winner of the competition will go home with N10 million, second position with N7 million, third position N5 million, and fourth position will get N3 million.
She explained that this year’s, tournament will take place from 2nd to 13th October 2024 between 14 participating teams with two international female teams from Benin Republic introduced to the tournament to make this year’s edition even more exciting.
Obaseki opined that these accomplishments underscore the impact of the Betsy Obaseki Women’s Football Tournament in these past four years.
She disclosed that “It also stands as a testament to the calibre of talent we possess and the opportunities that lie ahead if we continue to support them and harness their potential.
The first lady extended her gratitude to their sponsors, whose support, she said, has been instrumental to the success and growth of the tournament in the past years.