The much talked about Betsy Obaseki Women Football Tournament kicked off Monday in centers across Benin City, the capital of Edo state in massive fireworks as 13 goals were recorded in five games played on the opening day of the competition, the sixth postponed due to logistics.
The competition opened with the first match of the day between Benin based team, Rolly Angels against Heartland Queens at the University of Benin sports complex mainbowl. The keenly contested encounter saw Owerri Queens edged the Inonoje’s girls, courtesy of Chioma John’s solitary goal to snatch the maximum points and raises their hope of qualification against Naija Ratels FC, on Tuesday.
Nigerian women football league defending champions and representatives at the maiden edition of the CAF Women Champions League, Rivers Angels demonstrated their superiority over Fortress Ladies with commanding victory over the coach Jimmy led girls. Goals from Paulinus Ifeoma, Evelyn Nwabuoko, Kabwe Berita and captain, Cecilia Nku were enough to commence their campaign for the maiden title.
In another high scoring encounter, FC Robo were all gun blazing against Royal Queens of Warri, with a total domination from blast of the whistle till the final whistle. The Osahon girls were ruthless in front of goals as the likes of Shukura Oladipo opened the floodgate of goals with her 38th minute strike. New signing, Opeyemi Ajakaye; Sade Ijamilusi both got on the scorers sheet, but not without a ‘Monday Gift’ of brace from the Super Falcons goals Queen, Monday Gift on the hour mark and 69th minutes respectively to condemn the Warri Queens to their first defeat ahead of their meeting with Rivers Angels on Tuesday afternoon.
Meanwhile, the match between Kaduna Queens and Sunshine Queens could not hold as the former were held back due to logistics issues which was rightly communicated to the organizers who in turn postponed the game to Wednesday for level playing ground.
The last match of the day was rivalry renewal between Naija Ratels and their 2020 Flying Officers Cup and 2021 AITEO cup conquerors, Edo Queens at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium, moments after the official opening ceremony. The Obaseki girls after many spunned goal scoring opportunities got opened their goal scoring account on the 37th minute through Glory Osagie, a lead they will maintain till the end of the first half. Abibat Agbaji in the second half added the second for Edo Queens, who held on to win the game by 2 goals to 1 in what was a keenly contested encounter where Ratels pushed for a shocking draw after pulling one back late in the game, from two goals down.
Hostilities resumes on Tuesday as Edo Queens hosts Rolly Angels at the University of Benin sports complex. Naija Ratels will look to bounce back against Heartland Queens at the Western Boys High school pitch as Rivers Angels will look to further compound the woes of Royal Queens at the Uniben sports complex.
AITEO cup champions, Bayelsa Queens will hope to return to winning ways when they take on Kaduna Queens by 10am at the Uniben sports complex, same time Confluence Queens will engage Sunshine Queens in another match up. For Fortress Ladies, they will be up against a high scoring Robo Queens and will pray they don’t concede more than the four they did against Rivers Angels in their first match.