Bayelsa Queens football club of Nigeria continued their fine form at the WAFU-B CAF women’s champions league qualifiers as they comfortably dispatched their opponents, Espoir of Benin Republic edged by six goals to nil at the Stade De Yamoussoukro, to book their place in the final.
It took the Nigerian side just three minutes to announce their readiness for the game as they wasted no time to register the first goal of the match with a superb goal from Chinyere Igbomalu’s free-kick – a Woman of the Match award winner against USFA.
The rest of the half saw Espoir Ladies struggle to get back into the game but all to no avail as Bayelsa Queens kept their composure and explored more chances of inflicting pain on their opponents, though close-range efforts went begging.
Bayelsa Queens resumed the second half with more intensity – repeating the first-half display to earn their second goal in the 49th minute through Kafayat Bashiru who headed home from Blessing Ilivieda’s free kick. The second goal gave the ‘Prosperity Girls’ more assertiveness, controlling the possession to earn more goals.
Glory Edet through another set piece took the game beyond her side’s opponents with the third goal in the 52nd minute in what was a total victory loading for the Nigerians.
Just 12 minutes after the third goal, the ever-reliable goal-getter, Etim Edidiong – a hattrick heroine and a ‘Woman of the Match’ winner against Athleta FC – added the fourth goal as she loped the goalkeeper from a cross into the box, from the right flank; unfortunately for the Republic of Benin side, they had a chance to put their name on the score sheet, but were not clinical enough in front of goal.
Chinyere Igbomalu got the better of her markers with 17 minutes to end the game to get her brace and the fifth for her side in the 73rd minute before Mary Anjor in the 88th minute put the icing on the cake with the sixth goal of the game to leave the Espoir Ladies in mystery beyond their expectations, this time again, from the set piece.
The win means the final will see a repeat of Matchday 2 as Bayelsa Queens will take on Ampem Darkoa of Ghana who they played a barren draw against in the group stage – on Sunday, September 4th. The Ghanaian women’s league champions got the better side of hosts, AS D’ Abidjan, 6-5 on penalties after a one-all at regulation time.
The ‘Prosperity Girls defeated Athleta FC 5-0 in their first game, played a goalless draw against Ampem Darkoa ladies, and humbled the USFA ladies 3-1 in their last game to cement their semi-final place.