Bayelsa Queens, Rivers Angels Battle For Betsy Obaseki Cup In Today’s Final
ONU MONDAY BENJAMIN
Perennial Nigeria women’s football league rivalry between the two best clubs in the country will again be rekindled this time at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, today as Rivers Angels of Port Harcourt slug it out against Bayelsa Queens of Yenagoa in the grand finale of the first edition of the Betsy Obaseki Women Football Tournament.
Bayelsa Queens defeated FC Robo Queens of Lagos in a repeat fixture of the Aiteo Cup final at the same venue, this time by 3 goals to one, compared to the 2-1 victory at the Aiteo Cup finals some months ago.
While Rivers Angels defeated home team, Edo Queens of Benin, in a game watched by the First Vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi, the NFF Chairman of Chairmen, Ibrahim Gasau, the Edo State Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu and the Edo State First Lady, Mrs Betsy Obaseki, also by the same goal margin, 3-1, to book their place in the final.
The final match today, which will be televised live by the Nigeria Television Authority, NTA, kicks off at 5 pm after the closing ceremony at 4 pm.
The third place match between Edo Queens of Benin and FC Robo of Lagos will be played at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium at 9 am.
The Champion of the Betsy Obaseki Women Football Tournament will go home with N5million, a giant trophy and medals, the second place gets N3million, third place N2million and fourth-place team gets N1million. Earlier on, all the eight eliminated clubs after the group games were presented with consolation cash prizes of N500,000 each. They are Heartland Queens of Owerri, Naija Ratels of Abuja, Confluence Queens of Yenagoa, Royal Queens of Warri, Kaduna Queens, Sunshine Queens of Akure, Rolly Angels of Benin and Fortress Ladies of Benin City.
There will also be four individual awards for the Highest Goal Scorer, Most Valuable Player, Best Goalkeeper and the Fair Play Award.
The Betsy Obaseki Women Football Tournament is the first time the wife of a serving Governor in Nigeria and indeed in Africa is hosting a 12 club preseason tournament involving 8 Premiership clubs and 4 Championship and Amateur football clubs.
The first edition of the Betsy Obaseki Women Football Tournament, with the theme; “Promoting The Girl Child” a campaign against Girl Child Trafficking, will be brought to a close with elaborate fireworks at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, and later on from 8 pm a dinner at the Edo State Government House that would see the Edo State First Lady and host of the historic tournament hosting the players and officials of the last four teams, the dignitaries from across the country and members of the Local Organizing Committee led by the Chairman, Mrs Sabina Chikere.