…Four Players Get National Team Call-Ups
Nasarawa Amazons, the Nasarawa State-owned women’s premier football club, have emerged victorious in the prestigious 4th edition of Betsy Obaseki Women’s Football Pre-season Tournament, defeating highly-ranked 2023/24 Nigeria Women’s Premier League winners, Bayelsa Queens, 6-5 in a nail-biting penalty shoot, after regulation time result ended 0-0 at the magnificent Sam Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, Edo State, on Wednesday night.
The heartwarming victory marks a perfect start to the Amazons’ preparations for the upcoming 2024/25 NWFL Season set to commence before the end of this year.
Despite creating numerous goalscoring opportunities, neither team could find the back of the net, as the match ended goalless after full-time.
Both teams’ defences shone like the meteors, with the goalkeepers making crucial saves, leading the game to penalty shootouts.
Amazons’ goalkeeper, Unachukwu Udoka, made three decisive saves as her team converted six out of their eight spot-kicks.
Bayelsa Queens scored five penalties but missed three, sealing the victory for the Coach Christopher Danjuma-tutored Nasarawa Amazons, making it their first Pre-season Cup Tournament triumph at the final.
The two-time Premier League Champions navigated the Pre-season Tournament with convincing wins over Confluence Queens of Lokoja 4-0, Abia Angels of Umuahia 1-0, Remo Queens of Ikenne 2-1, before edging Edo Queens of Benin City 6-5 via penalty shootout in the Semi-final after full-time ended 2-2 separately.
Players of Nasarawa Amazons equally carted away two prestigious individual awards with Akerekoromwei Janet winning the golden boot for scoring the highest number of goals, seven in total, while Unachukwu Udoka won the golden glove award for her outstanding goalkeeping prowess throughout the duration of the competition.
In a remarkable development, four players from the camp of the Amazons, namely, Matthias Josephine, Unachukwu Udoka, Isah Sikiratu and Akerekoromwei Janet, have been invited to join Nigeria’s Senior Women’s team, the Super Falcons, for their upcoming international assignments.
The latest champions, Nasarawa Amazons, received Ten Million Naira as Prize Money, while Bayelsa Queens got Seven Million Naira, with Edo Queens parting with Five Million Naira.
Betsy Obaseki is the First Lady of Edo State.
The competition named after the Governor’s wife has produced three previous champions, including Bayelsa Queens, FC Robo Queens, and Edo Queens respectively.
Overjoyed by the feat, Chairperson of Nasarawa Amazons, Hajiya Hussaina Suleiman Nagogo told journalists that her wards showed unbelievable resilience and team spirit, and that the victory would boost the confidence of the players ahead of the new league season.
