The Edo State Sports Commission boss has described the annual Nigeria Women Premier Football League pre-season tournament which came to an end on Wednesday evening at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin, as a huge success.
Alli wh,o expressed his joy over the Edo Queens’ victory, said he was also impressed with the performance of the girls throughout the tournament adding that the coaches and the entire team have shown how ready they are for the new football season.
Said he: “I congratulate our mother, Mrs Betsy Obaseki on the hitch-free 2023 Betsy Obaseki Football tournament. I am particularly happy that sports is alive again in our state to the extent that the wife of our governor is supporting her husband in the renaissance process.
“She is contributing immensely to football development in the country. The tournament is not only adding glamour to women football in the country but it is also an advocacy platform for girl child protection. I am happy it is happening in Edo State and Her Excellency is the initiator, which means it is sustainable.”
The chairman congratulated the Edo Queens team.
“Let me also congratulate our girls, Edo Queens for the sterling performance that earned them that hard-fought victory over highly experienced Bayelsa Queens.
“At least, we have a good story to tell this year. Last year, we came close but surrendered the Gold cup to FC Robo of Lagos. I urge them to replicate the feat when the Nigeria Women Premier Football League resumes. They have really made us proud.”
Edo Queens Football Club of Benin on Wednesday (November 8) evening emerged Champions of the 3d Betsy Obaseki Pre-season Women Football Tournament after edging out Bayelsa Queens Football Club of Yenagoa 4-3 in a shoot-out. The final match had ended 1-1 regular period of 90 minutes.
In the game proper, Bayelsa Queens took the lead in the 27th minute of play through Blessing Abiola, whose ferocious shot from about 20 yards, caught Edo Queens defenders and keeper napping.
Edo Queens however, stepped up their game, and later replied the visitors before halftime as their top striker, Eunice Godwin after a neat exchange of passes with Moses Chioma, flipped the ball into the top far corner of Bayelsa Queens’ net to restore parity for the hosts in the 41st minute of play.
The game would have ended 2-1 in favour of Edo Queens without going through the shootouts as Bayelsa Queens defender handed a goal-bound ball in her 18 yards box, within the extra four added minutes to the end of the match, which resulted in the referee awarding them a penalty. A mild drama followed Abideen Suliyat’s heart-breaking miss of the resultant penalty, hitting the bar to end the game 1-1 resulting in the shoot-outs.
During the shootouts, Edo Queens lost their first kick but scored with the other four to defeat Bayelsa Queens who lost their third and final kicks to surrender to the host at 4-3.
