The First Edition of the Betsy Obaseki Women Football Tournament going on in the Edo State capital, Benin City, is living to expectations as top Nigeria Women Premiership clubs are in a photo finish to get the four available places in the semi-finals of the tournament as the group games end today at the University of Benin Sports Complex, Ugbowo campus and the Western Boys High School, Ikpoba Hill.
The battles for the four semi-finals places will be fierce in three matches: Edo Queens versus Heartland Queens, Rivers Angels versus FC Robo Queens, and the cracker between Bayelsa Queens and Sunshine Queens.
In Group A, Edo Queens on six points and +5 Goal Difference, must beat or play a draw against Heartland Queens of Owerri in their last group game scheduled for the Uniben Sports Complex at 1 pm. If Edo Queens fails to beat Heartland to move to 9 points, the narrative will change if the Owerri team wins the game with just a lone goal. This will take Heartland to seven points from their present 4 points. Heartland Queens needs just a simple win to play in the semi-finals.
The toughest game is in Group B, as Rivers Angels of Port Harcourt slug it out against FC Robo Queens of Lagos at the Uniben Sports Complex in the first match of the day at 10 am.
The two Premiership clubs going into the final group game are tied on six points, with Robo topping the table with a +10 Goal Difference against Rivers Angels’ +7 inferior Goals Difference. A win or draw for any of the two will separate them. What that means is that any of the teams that win today’s game, move straight to the semis. A draw will favor FC Robo more to book a semis’ ticket looking at their superior Goal Difference.
These two teams are also the best candidates for the single slot for the best losers of the group stages going by their equal 6 points and superior goals in two matches in all the three groups.
In Group C, Sunshine Queens of Akure must defeat or play a draw against the hard-fighting multiple Premiership League champions and current Aiteo Cup champions. With at least a lone goal to take them to 9points. A draw for Sunshine Queens will still give them a superior seven points. The Restoration Girls from Bayelsa must beat ‘The Betty Babes’ with at least one goal to take them to superior seven points, making their superior +6 Goal Difference immaterial. Sunshine Queens have +3 Goal Difference.
The Bayelsa Queens versus Sunshine Queens cracker holds at 4 pm at the Uniben Sports Complex, Ugbowo campus.
Others matches in the last group games would see Women’s Premiership League debutant Naija Ratels FC of Abuja on one point, face Rolly Angels of Benin City on zero points at the Western Boys High School, Ikpoba Hill at 1 pm. The two teams are out already.
Confluence Queens FC of Lokoja on a meager one point will be playing a consolation game against the weeping team of Group C Kaduna Queens with zero points at the Western Boys High School, Ikpoba Hill at 4 pm.
Fortress Ladies FC of Benin, the weeping team of Group B, with zero point and -9 Goal Difference, will slug it out against Royal Queens of Warri, also on zero point and -8 Goal Difference at the Western Boys High School, at 10 am.
Tomorrow Friday, October 1, Nigeria’s Independence Day celebration, is the second Rest Day.
The semi-finals of the Betsy Obaseki Women Football Tournament hold on Saturday at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, while the Grand final and Third place matches hold on Sunday, October 3 at 5pm, this will be heralded by the closing ceremony at 4 pm at the same venue.
