For the first time in the history of the Nigeria Women Premier League Super 4, the grand finale of the 2018/2019 edition will be graced by two first class Ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, even as the organisers of the league announced a mouth-watering sum of N6 million at stake for the winners.
The Sports Minister, Sunday Dare, and the Minister for Women’s Affairs, Pauline Tallen, have confirmed their presence at the ‘Soccer Temple’ Agege Stadium, as Special Guests of Honour at the grand finale of the NWPL Super 4.
This was disclosed by the Chairperson of the Nigeria Women Football League, Aisha Falode.
Falode, who is also a board member of the Nigeria Football Federation, noted that, the two ministers who are positively relevant to the event, will play multiple roles at the grand finale which has been fixed for Sunday, November 3, 2019.
“The two Ministers whose presence would add value to the grand finale, will combine to take the ceremonial kick-off before they will combine forces at both the Third Play final and the final.
The duo will take turn to present medals and trophies to the last three teams on the final day.”
An elated Falode, said she noticed that the Minister for Women Affairs fell in love with women’s football when she attended the Japan 2020 Olympic Qualifiers match between Nigeria’s Super Falcons and the Atlas Lioness of Algeria, played at the Agege Stadium.
On Sunday, November 3, Pauline Tallen will be staging a return to the Agege Stadium, this time to watch the high profile Women’s Premier League Super 4 challenge where the season’s champions will be determined.
“We are very happy for her confirmation of attendance as a special guest.
“We are also most delighted to have the indefatigable Sports Minister, Sunday Dare, in our midst. Since he resumed office as Minister, he has constantly played a fatherly role in the development of women’s football in Nigeria. We appreciate his extra care towards ensuring a standard women’s football fortune in Nigeria.
“With him, Nigeria Women’s football will go places at all levels,” Aisha Falode said.
For the 2018/2019 Nigeria Women Premier League proper, the four participating clubs have arrived in Lagos for action, while the press conference, the official draws and pre-match meeting hold Wednesday, October 30, 2019. On Thursday, October 31, the four teams; Adamawa Queens, Bayelsa Queens, Confluence Queens and Rivers Angels, will officially have a feel of the pitch, while competition begins on Friday, November 1, 2019. The teams will go on break on Saturday November 2, 2019.
The NWPL Super 4 ends on Sunday, November 3.
Meanwhile, the Chairperson of the Nigeria Women Football League, Aisha Falode, has disclosed that the eventual champion of the Nigeria Women Premier League Super 4 will go home with a cash prize of N3million and an official trip to Spain on invitation of the La Liga Women’s League.
She noted that the second place team will get N2 million, while the third place team gets N1 million cash prize.
Falode, said Wednesday at the well-attended press conference to herald the 2018/2019 Nigeria Women Premier League Super 4 at the Agege Stadium, Lagos, that, the one-week official trip for the eventual champion of the 2018/2019 Super 4 , is one of the technical activations of the La Liga Women’s League partnership with the NWFL, signed two years ago in Spain.
She stressed that, the second aspect of the La Liga partnership, would see the Spanish league management, send technical officials to Nigeria before the commencement of the new season to train coaches in the Women’s League.
“This is the much we have done to further develop the Nigerian league, as we the board members of the NWFL know quite well that, there is no vibrant national team, without a standard and well developed league football in the country.”
The Chairperson of the NWFL urged women football stakeholders in Nigeria to be ready to invest in the country’s women’s football. “We have not done badly in a little over 2 years since we took office. We have a league that plays the Super 4 and the Champion’s Shield.
All we need now for our viable league is a worthy sponsorship. We appeal to the clubs to appreciate the good things done by the board and constructively criticise. We want the best for the league.
The closing gap being experienced from other African countries at the national team level, means, we need to work hard to regain our pride of place at the top of African football.
Aisha Falode noted: “The Nigeria Women Football family is delighted to have two cabinet ministers and one Deputy Governor at the final of the 2018/2019 Super 4 on Sunday November 3.
“We are honoured to have the Minister of Sports, Sunday Dare, the Minister for Women’s Affairs, Pauline Tallen and the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Honourable Philip Shauibu, at the grand finale.
“We are also grateful to the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo Olu, for partly supporting the Super 4 to hold in Lagos.”
In the Super 4 Match Day One, Adamawa Queens will confront Confluence Queens in the ‘Battle of the Savannah, while defending champions Bayelsa Queens will slug it out against Rivers Angels in the ‘Battle of the Niger-Delta’. The winners of the two games will play in the final, while the losers will play in the third place match all on Sunday, November 3, 2019.
