Delta Queens opened the West Africa Football Union Zone B qualifying tournament for the 2023 Confederation of African Women’s Football Champions League with a resounding 3-0 victory over USFA Ladies of Burkina Faso Sunday evening at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City of Edo State, Nigeria.
The rescheduled match started with the Nigerian Women Football League champions expectedly dominating their opponents with precision in play and pushing for a goal.
Delta Queens could have as early as the second minute of the game going up against their opponents after the captain of the side, Taiwo Afolabi out Chinaza Agoh through with a defence-splitting pass, but the goalkeeper of the Burkina Faso Ladies rushed out to clear her line.
Three minutes later, a similar pass came through the right flank and fell through to the path of Folajomi Olabiyi who wasted no time to convert – though her initial shot was parried by goalkeeper Nina Dabilgou, but the rebound fell back to the foot of the anticipating striker to give her team a deserved lead.
Delta Queens continued to enjoy possession and they went close on two occasions before the end of the first half – Folajomi Olabiyi in the 31st minute found Chinaza Agoh in the box with a sweet pass, but the assistant referee raised her flag for offside – so close a chance for the home team to make it two.
Chinaza Agoh was again called to action in the 35th minute, she danced down the right flank and took on two markers in clinical dribbling before releasing a shot but Nina Dabilgou did well to keep it for safety. Almost immediately, Effiong Ekeng laid down another fine pass into the box for Folajomi Olabiyi but her timing of the pass was poor that the offside flag was raised.
USFA Ladies grew into the game and had a chance in the 40th minute – a good through pass by Hetie Awa located Zoeyande Sawadogo who immediately released a pass into the box, but a blue jersey was on the ground to clear for safety. A free kick from resultant clearance, but it was headed wide off target with the two sides ending the first half in the same fashion – Delta Queens led by a goal to nil.
The second half started on a very good note for Delta Queens and they surged forward for more goals to put their mind at peace – Coach Tosan Blankson threw in Mercy Omokwo and Samuel Vera, to beef up his team and add bites to the frontline.
The substitution paid off well fifteen minutes into the game as Mercy Omokwo and Chinaz Agoh combined well to make it two for Delta Queens in the match. Chinaza Agoh tapped in a rebound from the opponents’ goalkeeper after Mercy Omokwo had released a hot shot from 20 meters off goal.
Earlier Delta Queens’ substitute, Samuel Vera was sent off after a hash tackle on a USFA player to reduce her team to ten Ladies, but that didn’t affect the determined Delta girls who doubled their leads minutes later.
Twelve minutes from time, Mercy Omokwo made it three for Delta Queens! A well-taken free kick from the right flank met the energetic forward who pounced on the ball and hit hard – too hot for goalkeeper Nina Dabilgou to grab as the striker gave a military salute celebrating her goal.
The girls kept the lead and were able to defend well in the final minutes of the game with Temilope Owoeye sent in to help the defence from the midfield.