WOMEN'S FOOTBALL
Bayelsa Queens Rally to Defeat USFA and Reach WAFU B Women’s Champions League Final
Bayelsa Queens booked their place in the final of the 2025 WAFU B Women’s Champions League qualifiers after overturning an early deficit to beat Burkina Faso’s USFA 2-1 on Tuesday.
The Nigerian side, who previously claimed the regional crown in 2022, fell behind just two minutes into the match when Comfort Yeboah capitalized on a defensive miscommunication between Florence Alexander and goalkeeper Monle Omini, lobbed the ball into an empty net.
Responding swiftly, Bayelsa Queens equalized in the 15th minute when Shakirat Moshood dispossessed a USFA defender, dribbled past three opponents, and set up Emem Essien, who headed the ball home to level the score.
The goal sparked confidence among the Nigerian team, with players like Alaba Olabiyi and Vera Samuel controlling the midfield and dictating the tempo of play.
The winning goal came in the 62nd minute through Seimeyeha Akekoromowei. She seized on a loose ball at the edge of the box and unleashed a powerful strike that dejaron the USFA goalkeeper stranded, securing the victory.
Akekoromowei, who has been a standout performer throughout the tournament, was named Player of the Match for the second time in the competition, further cementing her reputation as one of West Africa’s brightest football talents.
With this victory, Bayelsa Queens, who remain unbeaten in the tournament, will face Ivorian champions ASEC Mimosas in Friday’s final. ASEC reached the final after defeating Ghana’s Police Ladies 4-1 earlier in the day, making them the first Ivorian side to reach the WAFU B final.
The winner of the regional tournament will secure qualification for the 2025 CAF Women’s Champions League, with potential spots at both the FIFA Women’s Club World Cup and FIFA Women’s Champions Cup. Bayelsa, who finished third at the continental finals in Morocco three years ago, is now just one step away from another appearance on Africa’s biggest stage.
Among distinguished guests was Robert Terlumun Akpenpuun, a former Nigeria Premier League match commissioner and current diplomatic officer at the Nigerian Embassy in Côte d’Ivoire. He presented the MVP award to Seimeyeha Akekoromowei, acknowledging her outstanding performance in the match.
Nigeria’s Bayelsa Queens continued their impressive run at the ongoing WAFU B Women’s Champions League Qualifiers in Cote d’Ivoire, cruising to a 3-0 victory over Togo’s ASKO on Tuesday.
The Nigerian champions, who edged Ghana’s Police Ladies 2-1 in their opening fixture on Sunday, showed their superiority once again at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium.
After a goalless first half, the deadlock was broken just two minutes into the restart when ASKO defender Oumou Bani inadvertently put the ball into her own net. Alaba Olabiyi doubled Bayelsa Queens’ advantage in the 53rd minute, before Shakirat Moshood sealed the emphatic win with a fine finish in the 80th minute.
With the result, Bayelsa Queens made it two wins from two, collecting maximum points and keeping their first clean sheet of the competition.
The victory leaves the Nigerians firmly on course for a place in the knockout stages as they bid to book another ticket to the CAF Women’s Champions League.
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Nigeria’s Bayelsa Queens have arrived in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, to begin their campaign in the WAFU Zone B qualifiers for the CAF Women’s Champions League, a tournament that now serves as Africa’s pathway to the inaugural FIFA Women’s Champions Cup.
The reigning Nigeria Women’s Football League (NWFL) Premiership champions were received at the airport by Robert Terlumun Akpenpuun, a former Nigeria Premier League match commissioner and NFF protocol officer who now serves on diplomatic assignment at the Nigerian Embassy in Côte d’Ivoire.
Akpenpuun is also an Assistant Comptroller in the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).
For Bayelsa Queens, the mission in Abidjan is clear: secure qualification from the West African regional competition and return to the continental stage at the CAF Women’s Champions League later this year.
A triumph there would hand them Africa’s sole ticket to the maiden FIFA Women’s Champions Cup, billed as the women’s equivalent of a world club championship.
Already, four clubs have booked their places at the global event: Arsenal (England), Gotham FC (United States), Auckland United (New Zealand), and Wuhan Jiangda (China)—winners of their respective continental crowns in Europe, North America, Oceania, and Asia.
The final two slots will go to the champions of the Copa Libertadores Femenina (South America) in October and the CAF Women’s Champions League (Africa) in November.
Bayelsa Queens, carrying Nigeria’s hopes, will now aim to write their name in history by becoming the first African club to step onto women’s football’s biggest global stage.
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WOMEN'S FOOTBALL
CAF Women’s Champions League 2025: Bayelsa Queens Set for Another Shot at Glory in Côte d’Ivoire
Nigeria’s Bayelsa Queens will carry the nation’s hopes when the WAFU B Zonal Qualifiers for the 2025 CAF Women’s Champions League kick off in Côte d’Ivoire later this month.
The Prosperity Girls, champions of the inaugural WAFU Zone B Women’s Champions League in 2021, are once again eyeing the regional crown that guarantees a ticket to the continent’s flagship women’s club competition.
Drawn in Group B, Bayelsa Queens face a tough path as they battle Ghana’s Police Ladies, Togo’s ASKO, and Benin’s Sam Nelly. The Charles Konan Banny Stadium will host the tournament from 23 August to 5 September 2025, with the winners flying the WAFU B flag at the finals.
Quest for Continental Return
Having missed out on continental success since their historic 2021 run, Bayelsa Queens are determined to reclaim their dominance. Head coach and players are focused on navigating the group phase and securing one of the semi-final slots.
Their campaign begins on 24 August against Police Ladies of Ghana, a fixture that is expected to set the tone for the rest of their tournament. They will then face ASKO of Togo on 27 August, before rounding off the group stage against Sam Nelly of Benin on 30 August.
The Roadmap
The top two teams from each group advance to the semi-finals on 2 September, while the grand finale is scheduled for 5 September, where the region’s sole ticket to the CAF Women’s Champions League will be decided.
Full Fixture List – Bayelsa Queens’ Matches
- 24/08/2025 – 15h00: Bayelsa Queens (NGA) vs Police Ladies (GHA)
- 27/08/2025 – 15h00: ASKO (TOG) vs Bayelsa Queens (NGA)
- 30/08/2025 – 18h00: Sam Nelly (BEN) vs Bayelsa Queens (NGA)
As the competition draws near, Bayelsa Queens remain confident of once again stamping their authority on the regional stage and booking their ticket to Africa’s biggest women’s club tournament.
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