The 2017/18 Nigeria Women Premier League (NWPL) season officially came to a successful end on Sunday in Lagos with the emergence of Bayelsa Queens as the new champions of the Nigerian women top-flight league. The victory has now seen the Yenagoa side claim their fifth title.
The Restoration Girls shocked bookmakers as they stunned titleholders, Nasarawa Amazons with two unanswered goals in the NWPL Super Four final at the Agege Stadium in Lagos.
Prior to the grand finale on Sunday, Bayelsa Queens served the needed notice of their intention to claim the top prize when they piped newcomers, Sunshine Queens 1-0 in the first day knockout match on Friday.
Former Ibom Angels’ markswoman, Charity Reuben claimed the Owena Mermaids scalp on the occasion. The Yenagoa side gaffer, Moses Aduku came out straight to declare his side performance as below par. The former Nigerian junior international blamed his side’s not-too-impressive performance on the harsh weather while promising a far improved performance on the final. And an improved performance the side put up to the admiration of the crowds and dignitaries that turned out en masse to savour the best of women football on display. They condemned the Lafia side and bookmakers favourites to achieve back-to-back to the painful act of retrieving the ball twice inside their net without a matching response.
Nasarawa Amazons may have sent out a strong signal that ended up a mere alarm when they overpowered their perennial nemesis, Rivers Angels 5-4 on penalties after full time scores stood at one goal apiece in the second knockout match on Friday to advance to the final.
Former Abia Angels goal poacher, Vivian Ikechukwu scored the match opener for Rivers Angels while Adejoke Ejalonibu even scores for the Lafia side thereby taking the match to penalties.
Amazons head coach, Chris Danjuma was audacious when he admitted shortly after the hard fought win that the Jewel of Rivers have been the reasons his side were short of key silverware in their cabinets.
For Danjuma the biggest hurdle to achieving back-to-back had been done and dusted as the trophy will be there for the picking against opponents, Bayelsa Queens.
That was not to be as Bayelsa Queens handler, Moses Aduku who claimed to be a Lagos guy and familiar with the Agege Stadium terrain had something else in mind as he charged his wards never to lose the trophy on Lagos ground more so they have proven themselves as superiors to the Lafia opposition in the past Aiteo Cup meeting.
