Sixty-five goals have been scored since the beginning of the second edition of the Betsy Obaseki Women’s Football Tournament in Benin City amidst the frenzy, thrills and exciting football artistry from participating teams.
One would have wondered how many goals would have been scored at this stage since powerhouses like Bayelsa Queens and Rivers Angels opted out of the tournament, but the teams in it have shown that they have all it takes to make the tournament a lightening one for every follower and football lovers across the world.
47 goals ( 41 on the field and 6 as a result of walkover) were recorded, but the goals were undermined by some quarters who believed that smaller teams like Braveheart Ladies FC and Royaltoms FC made it easy for a high margin of goals scored, but recording 18 goals in the Quarterfinals stage where all teams are NWFL Premiership sides is a testament that it’s been a fantastic tournament sauced with goals.
With four big teams in the semi-finals, lesser goals are expected to be scored as the teams boast of a wonderful defensive lineup.
Road To Semi-Final.
Nasarawa Amazons vs Edo Queens
No doubt, the biggest of the semi-finals, no disrespect to Delta Queens, but based on the tournament’s and NWFL Premiership power ranking, Delta Queens are not as rated as the other three – back to Nasarawa Amazons vs Edo Queens FC.
Preview
Though they both won one game each last season, Edo Queens 2-1 winners in Benin and Nasarawa Amazons 2-0 winners in Lafia, the latter holds the bragging rights over their Benin counterparts as they won by a lone goal (via the penalty kick) at the Super Six in Benin City – a match that ended the reign of Wemimo Mathew who as at that time was building a solid team for the ‘Obaseki Girls’.
Much is expected when the two sides match up against each other in the first semi-final of this year’s edition of Betsy Obaseki Women’s Football Tournament.
Nasarawa Amazons Road To Semi-Final
The Solid Babes kickstarted their tournament with a 1-0 win over FC Robo International at the Western Boys High School.
They went on to humiliate Braveheart Ladies 10-1 at the University of Benin Sports Complex to book their place in the quarter-finals with a maximum of six points.
Nasarawa Amazons faced Naija Ratels Ladies in a North-Central and won the keenly contested battle 3-2, thanks to Tarnum Dooshima’s 73rd-minute solo goal to edge over their resilient opponents.
Players To Watch
Attacking-wise, 8 different players have scored 15 goals for Nasarawa Amazons in this competition and that makes them a difficult side to play against as there won’t be a specific player to mark out – Ayatsea Hembafan and Kesiena Ojijovwi on (3) goals, Amarachi Okonkwo, Dooshima Tarnum and Temitope Owoeye have 2 goals each to their names and three other players – Aweda Titilayo, Josephine Ojineme and Innocent Patricia – have scored 1 goal each.
Defensively, Nasarawa Amazons have conceded 3 goals in 3 games. With this, Edo Queens will have the confidence to go all out and get the goals with the mind that if Naija Ratels FC and Braveheart Ladies can score against them, they can also score.
Edo Queens Road To Final
Edo Queens FC started a new life under Coach Moses Aduku with a resounding 9-0 victory over Lagos-based Royaltoms FC.
Edo Queens though struggled against Warri-based Royal Queens in the second match, but the players registered some fears in the mind of their prospective opponents that they can score at any time of the game.
Edo Queens with a new another rotated starting 11 further showed their ability to play against fellow Premiership side with a 4-0 thumping of Heartland Queens – Eunice Godwin took the shine with a hat-trick in the game – and an own goal.
Players To Watch
Edo Queens just like their opponents in the semi-final is another team that will give any coach a sleepless night before the game as you can barely mark out a certain player in the team.
Attacking-wise, the Aduku-led girls have scored 14 goals, 1 less than their opponents and they have done this through Eunice Godwin (5), Fajobi Yetunde (3), Joy Jerry (2), Glory Osagahe (1), Emem Essien (1) and Yemisi Samuel (1).
Defensively, Edo Queens remains the only team yet to concede a goal in this tournament – a jinx Nasarawa Amazons will want to break and a tactic Coach Danjuma will work on his chess board.
Form Guide: Edo Queens is unbeaten in three games with 14 goals scored and they maintain clean sheets in all games.
Nasarawa Amazons have also won all games scoring 15 goals, but they have conceded on three occasions, a dent in their run of form.
Prediction: Edo Queens to win by a whisker
FC Robo vs Delta Queens
A Banana peel for FC Robo Queens as they face a less fancied side, Delta Queens FC. FC Robo is a better side and the joint top-scoring side at this tournament has the players who will wreak havoc on their opponents at any time – with their coach who understands match reading perfectly and is good at making critical tactical changes at the right.
Delta Queens will count on their better head-to-head in the NWFL Premiership as an advantage over the Mushin-based side. Though Delta Queens have scored lesser and conceded more than their opponents, head-to-head favours them over the side who have been clinical in front of goal.
Players To Watch
FC Robo boasts a formidable forward line and they have recorded 15 goals in three games – joint top-scoring sides with Nasarawa Amazons.
Taiwo Lawal leads the attacking force with 6 goals followed by Folashade Ijamilusi who netted 4 goals in their victory over Braveheart Ladies. Rukayat Oladiti (2), Shukurat Oladipo, Kehinde Akinwande and Favour Nkwocha all have one goal each.
Defensively, FC Robo is the other team aside from Edo Queens to have conceded the least goals (1).
Delta Queens have managed only four goals – two from Ijeje Favour and one each from Mercy Omokwo and Arowokeye. They have also conceded two goals – a department the coach will work on against free-scoring FC Robo when they take to the field on Wednesday evening.
Form Guide
Two wins for FC Robo in three games and the same number of wins for Delta Queens in as many games they have played means that both sides are equal to the tasks and will make the semi-final something to talk about for a long time.
Prediction
A very tight call, but Delta Queens will scale through with a close margin.