One of the title-deciding clashes on the final matchday of the 2023/2024 Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Premiership Super Six will see two South-South teams square off at the Samson Siasia Stadium in Yenegoa on Sunday.
Edo Queens sit at the top of the table with nine points ahead of this crucial match, while hosts Bayelsa Queens are in third place, just one point behind the leaders and level on points with second-placed Rivers Angels. This sets up a dramatic photo finish to the end of the season.
The game will be played concurrently with Heartland Queens’ encounter against Rivers Angels at the Nembe City Stadium, but both Bayelsa Queens and Edo Queens must focus on their own performances regardless of results elsewhere.
Three teams have a chance of winning the title depending on their results. Both teams need a win, but their paths to victory differ. For Moses Aduku’s Edo Queens, a win here will secure their maiden league title, irrespective of other results. Aduku, the former Bayelsa Queens coach, previously won the title with the Prosperity Girls in Benin City, the home ground of Edo Queens.
On the other hand, Domo Okara’s Bayelsa Queens need not only to win this clash but to do so convincingly. They must also hope that Rivers Angels do not win their match against Heartland Queens by a large margin to reclaim the title on home soil.
Head-to-Head Record
Bayelsa Queens have a superior head-to-head record over their rivals with seven wins from their past nine games, while Edo Queens have managed just one win and one draw.
The last meeting between the two sides ended in a 0-0 draw in Benin City during the regular season, marking the first stalemate in nine encounters.
Historical Matches:
- 2014 NWPL:
- Edo Queens 1-0 Bayelsa Queens
- Bayelsa Queens 2-1 Edo Queens
- 2019 President Federation Cup:
- Edo Queens 0-2 Bayelsa Queens
- 2018/2019 NWPL:
- Bayelsa Queens 2-1 Edo Queens
- Edo Queens 1-2 Bayelsa Queens
- 2020/2021 NWFL Premiership:
- Bayelsa Queens 3-2 Edo Queens
- Goals: Joy Jerry 19′, Charity Reuben 48′, 92′ (Bayelsa Queens); Elizabeth Zirike 24′, 69′ penalty (Edo Queens)
- Bayelsa Queens 3-2 Edo Queens
- 2021 Super Six:
- Edo Queens 0-3 Bayelsa Queens
- Goals: Zainab Olopade, Juliet Sunday’s brace (Bayelsa Queens)
- Edo Queens 0-3 Bayelsa Queens
- 2023/2024 NWFL Premiership:
- Bayelsa Queens 3-0 Edo Queens
- Goals: Chinyere Igboamalu 47′, 56′, 70′
- Edo Queens 0-0 Bayelsa Queens
- Bayelsa Queens 3-0 Edo Queens
Overall Record:
- Games Played: 9
- Bayelsa Queens Wins: 7
- Edo Queens Wins: 1
- Draws: 1
With history favoring Bayelsa Queens, this encounter promises to be a thrilling and decisive match in the quest for the NWFL Premiership title.