2019 NYG: How Team Lagos Won Gold in Female Football

Posted on September 13, 2019

Lagos’s golden girls

Team Lagos clinched gold medal in the female football event of the ongoing 2019 National Youth Games In Ilorin, Kwara State.

Team Lagos defeated their counterparts from Delta State in the final decided at the mainbowl of the University of Ilorin Sports Complex.

The end to end final match was decided by a solitary first half goal scored by Similoluwa Okeshiji who outpaced the opponents backline and finish with a flourish.

Team Lagos female side had defeated Team Akwa Ibom by two goals to nothing in the semifinals on Wednesday, their opponents in the final proved to be worthy adversaries as they were forced to defend the lone.

It was joyous moment for Team Lagos contingent at the sound of the final whistle as the girls made history by winning gold in female football event for the first time at the National Youth Games.

For the goal scorer, Similoluwa Okeshiji, the team’s success was a result of hard work and support from the Lagos State Government.

Okeshiji stated that the success mean a lot to her and her teammates, adding that the girls will continue to work hard to represent the country by playing for the national teams in the future.

“We didn’t believe that the Delta team can play better than us because we believe in what we have. We believe in Lagos because the state encouraged us to achieve something better. They train us very well. Before we came for the National Youth Games, we started our training four months ago, so we know each other very well and understand our abilities. I know all my colleagues, how they play, how they can run and the kind of pass that I can give them. We really thank God for today’s victory and the team’s success at the Youth Games.

“We won gold because we know that something good will come out of this and that’s why we put all our efforts. Not only that, we also know that by this achievement, we are going far by representing the country. Not only Nigeria we are going to play abroad,” Okeshiji said.

The male football team will hope to emulate their female counterparts by winning gold in the boys category, but they need to cross the semifinal hurdle against Team Edo on Friday.