The Edo State First Lady, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki, has expressed delight with the performance of the different female teams competing in this year’s edition of the Betsy Obaseki Women Football Tournament.

The second edition of the competition, scheduled to run between Wednesday, September 7, 2022 and Saturday, September 17, 2022, is focused on driving the government’s campaign against drug abuse.

The Edo State First Lady, after watching the group stage match between Confluence Queens of Lokoja and Fortress Ladies of Benin, said she was satisfied with the performance of the teams so far in the tournament.

The match ended 3-1 in favour of Confluence Queens, with the Lokoja-based team sealing a spot in the quarterfinals.

Chairman, Edo State Sport Commission, Mr. Yusuf Ali; Edo State First Lady, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki; Chairperson, Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL), Aisha Falode, and First Vice President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Seyi Akinwumi, during the last group stage match between the Confluence Queens and Fortress Ladies of Benin, at the Betsy Obaseki Women Football Tournament, at the University of Benin Sports Complex, on Saturday, September 10, 2022.

Facilitator of the tournament, Mrs. Obaseki, was joined in cheering the teams at the last group stage match held at the University of Benin Sports Complex, by the Chairperson of the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL), Aisha Falode; First Vice President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Seyi Akinwumi; former Chairman of the Edo State Football Association, Frank Ilaboya; Chairman, Edo State Sport Commission, Mr. Yusuf Ali, and Permanent Secretary, Edo State Ministry of Sports, Mrs. Sabina Chikere.

Addressing the players after the match, the First Lady said she was impressed with the performance put up by the Fortress Ladies FC and urged the players to keep up the spirit of the game despite losing out in the competition.

“You have done your best. You can do better next time. You have great potential in you, keep it up,” she told the players.

The first-two goals recorded by the Confluence Queens against their opponent were scored by Merit Offor and Titilayo Abdulahi. Osigwe Chiamaka sealed the team’s victory and qualification to the quarter-finals with the only goal in the second half of the match.

Esther Moses scored the only goal for the Fortress Ladies in the first half of the match.