By Harry Awurumibe, Editor-in-Chief
Jubilant Bayelsa United FC players mobbed by cameramen at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City on Sunday
Two Bayelsa State-owned football clubs, Bayelsa United and Bayelsa Queens on Sunday created a record in Nigeria’s football book as both the male and female teams won the 2021 FA Cup on the same day at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City.
Hard-fighting Bayelsa United beat Nasarawa United 4-3 in the penalty shootout after the teams were tied 2-2 at full time in the water-soaked pitch.
All the four goals recorded in the regulation time came in the first half of the explosive match which was nearly marred by heavy downpour which lasted the duration of the game.
By this victory Bayelsa United will represent Nigeria in the 2021/22 season of Confederation of African Football (CAF) Confederation Cup, a competition many Nigerian clubs have found very difficult to navigate to the final not to talk of winning the trophy like the more prestigious CAF Champions Leaque trophy which only Enyimba International FC has twice but can no longer win it.
Earlier on the day, Bayelsa Queens defeated FC Robo Queens of Lagos 4-2 at same Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium to win their first FC Cup after six previous disappointments.
After losing the last six FA Cup finals, Bayelsa Queens eventually won the 2021 FA Cup to make it double celebrations for Bayelsans in general and Governor Duoye Diri in particular, whose administration has been shouldering the huge financial burdens associated with sponsoring football clubs in Nigeria.
History Makers…Bayelsa Queens FC line up
Youthful forward, Anjor Mary gave the club fondly called ‘New Direction Ladies’ the lead in the 15th minute but Super Falcons invitee, Monday Gift equalised four minutes later.
Nevertheless, Juliet Sunday restored Bayelsa Queens’ lead in the 37th minute while ex-Junior international, Peace Effih made it 3-1 to increase her team’s lead.
Habiba Akinwande scored FC Robo’s second goal in the 65th minute to give false hope of a late comeback but another Falcons player, Joy Bokiri’s 74th-minute strike took the game out of the reach of Coach Emmanuel Osahon’s girls.
Goal-poacher..Gift Monday gallops past her markers during a Nigeria Women’s Football League match. She scored against Bayelsa Queens in FA Cup.
This will be the first time Bayelsa Queens is lifting the FA Cup, although the club has reached six previous final without lifting the trophy while it was FC Robo Queens first final of any major football competition in Nigeria.
Bayelsa Queens past first three straight defeats were in the 2004, 2005 and 2006 just as the club also lost in 2009, 2015, and 2016 finals of FA Cup.
Related
Sports Revelation Online ..breaking authenic sports reports