Delta Queens have emerged winners of the 2022/2023 Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) title and dethroned Bayelsa Queens to the win, eleven years after they claimed the title.
They defeated the Prosperity Girls 2-1 on June 11, 2023 to win the 2022/2023 Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) title at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba, Delta State.
The home team trailed in the game after Chisom Henry scored an own goal. Tosan Blankson’s ladies searched for a leveller, and almost got it at the stroke of halftime.
However, Fehintola Mabokanje missed from the spot, leaving Delta Queens one nil down heading into the break.
As the second half began, Blankson rang some changes, bringing Chinaza Agoh and Inyang Esther into the fray in the 65th minute.
It did not take time before the switch paid off. Chinaza finished off with an acrobatic goal to bring her side to parity. That’s the first goal Bayelsa Queens conceded in this year’s NWFL Super Six.
Both sides continued to search for the goals. However, four minutes from regulation time, Chinaza struck again to give her team the advantage.
Delta Queens then held on to win their first league crown since 2012 and their sixth overall.
After the final whistle, an excited Blankson, hailed the girls, stating:
“These girls are all national team materials. I am short of words but I give God all the glory for the victory.
We knew the first half is going to be tough for us so we have to keep Chinaza outside. When she came in, she was fresh and gave us the desired goals.”
Sunday’s victory hands the Asaba-based side the chance to represent Nigeria at the 2023 WAFU-B Zonal qualifiers for the CAF Women’s Champions League billed for Cote d’Ivoire later in the year.
For Bayelsa Queens’ Technical Adviser, Domo Okara, the defeat was painful but he admitted that in football, one can’t win all games.
But before next season, the Restoration Girls have a chance to start their revival mission when they face Rivers Angels in the final of the 2023 Women’s Federation Cup.
Meanwhile, there were also individual accolades, after the Super Six ties. Mercy Omokwo of Delta Queens won the Top Scorer prize having scored nine goals in 15 games. Her teammate Mbechi Anderline scooped the Best Goalkeeper award.
Chinaza also took the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the Super Six following Sunday’s brace.
In the third-place match, Rivers Angel beat Confluence Queens 2-0 courtesy of second-half goals from Adaobi Okah and Oghenebrume Ikekhua.
The Jewels of Rivers have now won the bronze medal for the second time in a row having claimed the prize in Benin City last year.
