The 2024 Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Super Six will begin tomorrow in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, with the teams fighting to claim the ticket to represent Nigeria at next season’s CAF Women’s Champions League.
Defending champions, Delta Queens could not make the party this time, and attention will be on former champions, Rivers Angels, Bayelsa Queens and Nasarawa Amazons, just as the trio of Edo Queens, Confluence Queens and Heartland Queens are also chasing the title.
Heartland Queens of Owerri is in her debut appearance at the Super Six, and their excitement is understandably palpable and joy unmeasurable among the players.
Five of the players debuting at this year’s elite football playoffs for Hartland Queens are Chinedu Chinaka, Nwabueze Charles, Onyinyechi Kalu, Emmanuella James and defender, Chinyere Iheoma. They are aiming to hit it big in their first appearance of the yearly event.
After a brief stopover in Benin City, players and officials of Edo Queens FC departed yesterday for the 10-day football showpiece in the oil rich city of Yenagoa.
Chairman of Edo State Sports Commission, Olympian, Yusuf Alli, told The Guardian in a telephone chat that Edo Queens are well prepared for the battle of Yenagoa.
“We have a governor who has so much interest in football, both male and female,” Alli said. “To prepare our girls well for this Super Six, Governor Godwin Obaseki ordered that we camp the team at Iyamho, near Auchi. The reason was that, we don’t have such a synthetic pitch in Benin City and the one at Iyamho is the same type of synthetic pitch that will be used in Yenagoa for the Super Six.
“Our girls camped there for five days, and they came into Benin City yesterday (Wednesday). They are on their way to Yenagoa now.”Edo Queens picked their Super Six ticket on the last day of the NWFL league by playing 1-1 draw with Delta Queens in Asaba. Edo Queens FC is also in the race for this year’s President Federation Cup after beating Kada Queens of Kaduna 8-0 in the round of 32 played in Abuja.
On his part, Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State, Dr Emmanuel AgbaduAkabe, was at the Lafia City Stadium to bid farewell to the state-owned Nasarawa Amazons, as they journey to Yenagoa, for the 2023/2024 Super Six competition.
Addressing the team shortly after their last training session, the Deputy Governor said: “I am here on behalf of the Governor and good people of Nasarawa State to bid you farewell as you travel to Yenagoa for your Super six Play-off Competition.
“For the few minutes I watched your training programme today, I wish to say I am very impressed because this is the quality that every responsible sports person would want to see. Kudos to the Coaching Crew for the good job you have been doing, and to the players, for the quick adaptability.”
“We are very proud of you all because you are always on track to make everyone happy with your performance. The last time I was with you in Kaduna, in 2019, you brought home the Aiteo Federation Cup, beating heavyweights, Rivers Angels of Port-Harcourt.
“Now, we are going for the Super Six. You will excel and come back home with the trophy, and by implication, pick the only slot for the Women’s CAF Continental engagement. I have already made contact with my colleague in Bayelsa State and be assured of VIP treatment throughout the tournament,” Akabe stated.
