The Nigeria Women Premier League (NWPL) side, Edo Queens, have emerged champions of pre-season tournament for women football clubs, Sheroes Cup.
The annual tournament sponsored by Ratels Sports Development Foundation (RSDF) which is in its sixth edition served as a veritable avenue for top female football teams across Nigeria to prepare themselves for the regular season kicks off in November 15, 2023.
The Edo Queens emerged champions after beating hosts Naija Ratels 1-0 in a keenly contested final played at the Aguyi Ironsi Cantonment Sports Complex, Abuja on Friday.
Emem Esien 38th minute strike was all Edo Queens needed to win the competition for the second time since it’s inception six years ago.
The hosts were able to contain the attacking prowess of the Edo ladies who had scored 15 goals en-route to the final and would have leveled the scoreline, but the Abuja based club were wasteful in front of goal.
Emem Essien emerged the highest goal scorer with five goals while Suliat Abideen picked the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award, just as Etim Inyene, also of Edo Queens, wins the golden glove award as the best goalkeeper of the tournament.
The founder and president of Ratels Sports Development Foundation, Barrister Paul Edeh, who was obviously excited for the successful hosting of the competition, pledged his continued sponsorship of the pre-season tournament, saying it is about giving back to the girl child.
“Without consistency, you can never be adjudged to have achieved any goal that you set for yourself in life. For me, it is all about giving back to the girl-child and giving opportunity to teams to be able to prepare for the league season.
“Of course we have come along way and Sheroes Cup has become a household name and brand all female clubs are eager to be part and parcel. It is indeed, a privilege for me to be the one organising it,” Edeh said.