An enterprising player with Dannaz Ladies FC of Lagos, Daniella Akintola has revealed how new strategies employed by the team have given her and other players of the squad stronger hope of qualifying for this year’s Super-6 play-offs in the Nigerian Women Football League (NWFL).
Akintola revealed this much after helping her side snatch a 1-1 draw at home against NWFL 2024 winners, Edo Queens of Benin City, who got to the semi-finals of last year’s CAF Women’s Champions League in Morocco.
Although Akintola admitted that Dannaz Ladies should have won the game, considering that they were at home, she added in a chat with sports247.ng that they played against a very formidable opponent, hence her delight with the draw they eventually got from the encounter.
She also praised her colleagues for putting up a spirited fight in the match, which she noted caught the visitors unawares and she was excited to see that the highly rated visitors from Edo State were stunned by the tough challenge they faced during the feisty tie.
Akintola further stated, “In this match, we actually showed total spirit of determination. Nobody believed we were going to come out this far; but we believe in ourselves, and we showcased our talent.”
Akintola went on to declare that Dannaz Ladies would have even got a win against their more illustrious visitors, but noted that poor finishing put paid to their efforts of raining goals and they eventually had to settle for a draw at home.
“We actually planned for victory, and it was winning we came out for, but it turned round to end this way. We had transit, but we could not convert the chances that we created. That’s why the game resulted in a 1-1 draw.”
She then turned her focus on the next fixture, which will be during matchday five, and the exuberant lass promised that everyone at Dannaz Ladies would come out with renewed gusto, in order to pick maximum points from the game.
She declared, “For our next game, expect total football. We are coming out stronger. For this match, we played against a CAF team, a good side, but we held them to a draw. Although we are small, we are mighty. Before the match, they said we should expect to lose 6-0 or something like that; but we were able to come out with the little we had. We came out strong, and our opponents didn’t believe it. So, they went home disappointed.”
Sports247.ng reports that the visitors scored first in the 18th minute through Goodness Osigwe, after which Omotoke Ogunfunwa equalised in the 70th, which Akintola admitted was a very huge and remarkable comeback for her team.
She ended with projections into the final lap of the season, with a view that Dannaz Ladies will eventually be able to qualify for the NWFL Super-6 play-offs this time around, after falling by the wayside very narrowly last season.
“We are hoping for the Super-6. Even last year, we were supposed to go for the Super-6, but one game actually spoilt our points. This year, we are working much harder and hoping to get the slot.
So, we are prepared for all tough games ahead and every other match. We are prepared. Our training has changed, and we are putting in more effort.
We normally watch our previous games in order to work on our lapses and all of that. It has really helped us thus season, and our fans should expect more from us. We will deliver,” Akintola concluded emphatically.
