Edo Queens utility captain Suliyat Abideen, on Friday at the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa, scored a crucial 81st-minute goal that moved Edo Queens to 9 points in an all-important match against stubborn Nasarawa Amazons of Lafia.
It was Abideen’s 1st goal in the Super Six tournament, but she has given four assists in the 10 goals scored so far by the Benin-City-based female club giants. The sensational award-winning mid-fielder demonstrated her captainship qualities in the emotional and physical game played against the Amazons.
The first quarter of the game was difficult for both teams as no goal was recorded. Both teams headed into the dressing room with anxiety, fear, and tension as the referee sounded his whistle bringing the first half to an end with the score line at 0-0.
The second half resumed with both teams trying to show supremacy over each other but Suliyat Abideen, broke the jinx in the 81st minute when Goodness Osigwe, gave a brilliant pass, connecting Abideen, with a well-cushioned right foot she wasted no time in firing the ball into the right corner of the opponent’s goal, given Edo Queens the needed three maximum points.
Both teams displayed exceptional football skills. At one stage, you could see the disappointed looks on the faces of the fans with the notion that the epic game would produce no goal but were shocked when Abideen’s stunning goal came, and what seemed impossible before the eyes of the teeming fans became possible with Abideen’s strike. Her goal shows that she merited the best NWFL mid-fielders Award of the 2023/24 Premiership Season.
With this victory, Edo Queens now top the table with 9 points, Rivers Angels with 8 points, and Bayelsa Queens with 8 points.
Emem Essien and Goodness Osigwe are at the forefront of the highest goal scorer hunt.
Edo Queens’ next game will be against Bayelsa Queens on Sunday, May 26. Rivers Angels will be up against Heartland Queens, and Nasarawa Amazons will file out against Confluence Queens.
Speaking after the match, Edo Queens coach Moses Aduku, said, “Well I thank God for the victory, Nasarawa is not a pushover team, they are wonderful. The first half was theirs, but in the dressing room, I told my girls that we needed this match and my captain did it in the second half for us. Is a sweet victory and the entire team is happy.
“Talking about the people at home, am very sure that they must be celebrating this victory, but we will leave the celebration for Sunday after we have lifted the trophy.
“Edo State Government has done so much for us, we are the most motivated club in NWFL, and we need to appreciate them with a trophy, so by the special grace of God we are carrying the cup back to Edo State.
“Yes we are playing against the host State Bayelsa Queens, I’m from this State, and Bayelsa was my former team we know we have an uphill task before us, but I want to tell us that we are not scared, we are focused, we are determined and we are committed. All we desire is a hitch-free game.”
