Despite losing 1-0 to Nasarawa Amazons of Lafia in NWFL week 1 crucial match played on Wednesday evening at the Ape Aku Stadium Makurdi Benue State, Edo Queens players have vow to bounce back swinging when they take on Confluence Queens of Lokoja at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium Benin-City in their second match of the 2022/23 season next week Wednesday in Benin-City.
Being the first game of the season, the players will try to pick up the pieces of their NWFL campaign by ensuring they give a drastically improved performance after they have lost three points in the first game of the season.
For a better performance in subsequent outings the girls need to be more articulated, understand the dynamics of the game and to do what they have been told and get results to compliment their efforts.
Though the defeat is painful, it is important to note that Edo Queens players actually gave good account of themselves just that the goals refuse to come. However, the Moses Aduku, led ladies are confident of a better future realizing that there is so much to play for this season.
As rivals, the match kicked off on a tense atmosphere following the rivalry that has exited between the NWFL giants.Both clubs came into the game with a mind set of victory, and non shown respect for each other as there was good display of football artistry from the two sides. It was actually a tough encounter with a very large crowd of inspectors.
Ayatsea Hembafan, of Nasarawa Amazons produce a moment of trademark magic in 44 minutes of the first half when she capitalized on an error from Edo Queens defence before sending composed finish past on rushing goalkeeper Obidinma Nkiruka, of Edo Queens. That crucial one goal by Ayatsea Hembafan, broke the silence at the Stadium as the centre referee did not waste time in calling for the end of the first 45 minutes.
Both teams returned to the field of play in the second half with anxiety, tension, apprehension, zeal and determination to win. Edo Queens goalkeeper Nkiruka Obidinma, stole the show in the match with her superb performance. The Godwin Obaseki Queens played their hearts out to get an equalizer, but the defense line of Nasarawa Amazons was just too hard for the Benin- City based ladies to break.
Obidinma Nkiruka sparked an outburst of jubilant celebration from the small contingent of Edo Queens supporters in Makurdi when she brilliantly stop the undeserved penalty kick awarded
to Nasarawa Amazons by the centre referee towards the end of regulation time.
With this defeat by Nasarawa Amazons, Moses Aduku and team will now go back to the drawing board correct the errors of the past and prepare for the bigger challenge ahead as they host Confluence Queens of Lokoja next week Wednesday at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium Benin City.
