In a thrilling and nail-biting final of the third edition of the Betsy Obaseki Women Football Tournament (BOWFT) at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, Edo Queen Football Club of Benin showcased their mettle, securing victory with a dramatic penalty shootout against Bayelsa Queens after an intense one-all draw in regulation time.
The atmosphere was charged with excitement as Her Excellency Betsy Obaseki, the First Lady of Edo State, performed the ceremonial kick to kick off the final. She expressed her delight with the tournament’s success and highlighted that this year’s edition had the largest gathering of First Ladies witnessing the final match at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.
Her Excellency emphasized that the focus of this year’s tournament was addressing Gender-Based Violence in the country through the medium of football. She underscored the tournament’s commitment to tackling various social issues plaguing society yearly.
“Every year, we aim to combat different social issues in our society, and we have achieved significant success in this endeavour. We are grateful to everyone who has travelled from different parts of the country to Edo State to witness this tournament. This year, we are proud to have the highest number of First Ladies attending the final game,” she remarked.
Turning to the gripping final, Bayelsa Queens took an early lead in the 12th minute, setting the stage for an intense contest. However, Edo Queens displayed their resilience and determination, levelling the score 40 minutes into the first half. The thrilling action continued in the second half, with added time seeing Suliat Abideen missing a crucial penalty, pushing the game into a penalty shootout, which Edo Queens won 4-3.
The tournament also recognized the outstanding contributions of individuals. The title of the best coach of the tournament was bestowed upon Moses Asuku, the coach of the Edo Queen. Suliat Abideen received the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award, acknowledging her exceptional skills and impact on the tournament.
The Golden Boot award, celebrating the top goal scorer, was claimed by Folashade Damilusi of Robo FC, who netted an impressive six goals. Bayelsa Queens goalkeeper Oniyan Okeke was honoured as the best goalkeeper of the tournament for her outstanding performance throughout the competition.
Truth Live Media Communications Limited, publishers of Truth Live News International, donated One Hundred Thousand Naira each to the best goalkeeper, top scorer and most valuable player (MVP) of the tournament.