A total of six goals were scored with Edo Queens midfielder Suliyat Abideen the star performer.

Below is how things panned out….

Adamawa Queens 0-1 Royal Queens

Royal Queens pipped Adamawa Queens 1-0 in the first game of the morning session.

It was the Yola side who began the stronger and ljeoma Obi went close to opening the scoring after four minutes, but Emmanuel Goodness was on hand to make the save.

Royal Queens were next to go close after 18 minutes via Arowokeye Ayomide, but the forward could only fire high and wide when she might have done better.

The Warri based outfit took the lead just seven minutes into the second period when Deborah Peter nodded into the top corner from the centre of the box.

Adamawa Queens pushed for the equaliser in the latter stages, but Royal Queens held on to win.

Confluence Queens 0-2 Nasarawa Amazons

Nasarawa Amazons earned bragging rights at the North Central derby courtesy of a 2-0 win over Confluence Queens.

Christopher Danjuma masterminded the success, with Ayatsea Hembatau and Dorshima Tarnum getting on the scoresheet for the Amazons.

Confluence Queens were made to rue series of missed chances during a breathless game, with Chiamaka Osigwe among those most guilty of spurning opportunities.

Edo Queens 2-0 Honey Badgers

Midfielder Suliyat Abideen scored twice to give Edo Queens a 2-0 win over youthful Honey Badgers.

Badgers weren’t afraid to take the game to the defending champions with their Tiki-Taka approach.

Abideen opened scoring with a free kick in the 63rd minute.

Four minutes from time, the playmaker rounded up a player of the match performance from the penalty spot.

Naija Ratels 0-1 Delta Queens

Delta Queens held off the challenge of hard fighting Naija Ratels to win 1-0.

The former Nigeria Women’s Premier League champions raced in front on 18 minute.

Arit Usang drove down the left before delivering a low cross into Mercy Omokwo, who poked the ball home from close range.

Day 1 Results:
Adamawa Queens 0-1 Royal Queens
Confluence Queens 0-2 Nasarawa Amazons
Edo Queens 2-0 Honey Badgers
Naija Ratels 0-1 Delta Queens

As at last count, up to eight NWFL clubs have confirmed their readiness to participate as the organisers put finishing touches to plans.

The fixtures for the tournament have been released, and four matches will be decided each day.

In the opening game, Adamawa Queens will battle Royal Queens by 8am on Friday. The game between Confluence Queens and Nasarawa Amazons will follow thereafter at 10am.

Same day by 2pm, it will be Delta Queens versus Naija Ratels. The match between Edo and Heartland Queens will then happen, starting from 4pm.

Sheroes Cup (formerly called Naija Ratels Pre-Season Championship then Flying Officers Cup) is an annual preseason tournament for women’s association football teams in Africa. The competition usually feature elite teams from Nigeria Women Football League, as well as neighboring African countries. Since the first edition in 2019, it has been described as the biggest preseason tournament for women club football in Nigeria.

Just before the commencement of the second edition, it was rebranded as “Flying Officers Cup” to honor and immortalize the recently deceased Nigeria first-ever female combat helicopter pilot, Tolulope Arotile.

In 2021, there was a hundred percent increase in the prize money from the 2020 edition. The first, second, third and fourth placed teams received ₦1,000,000, ₦500,000, ₦300,000 and ₦200,000 respectively.

In October 2022, it was renamed to “Sheroes Cup”.

The competition is founded and financed by Barrister Paul Edeh, through his sport firm domiciled in Benue State. For the first edition, twenty women football clubs in Nigeria was invited but only four decided to honour the invitation. The inaugural tournament was contested by hosts, Naija Ratels; top tier teams, Nasarawa Amazons and Edo Queens; and lower pyramid team, Honey Badgers from Northern Nigerian state of Kaduna. Edo Queens emerged winners following a straight round robin format. All participating teams received free sporting souvenirs, including soccer balls and jerseys.

The second edition saw the introduction of prize money, as well as removing registration fees due to the financial impacts of COVID 19 on participating teams. It was also officially ratified by the Nigeria Women Football League. The tournament venue was relocated from Benue State to Abuja. Bayelsa Queens emerged winners through a more traditional initial group phase, then elimination stages matches format.

The third edition saw the ratification of an organizing committee that included many major national stakeholders in women’s football. The prize money was also significantly increased and the tournament was billed to involve other African countries for the first time. The number of teams was also increased to 12. The competition is scheduled to start on 4th November.

Naija Ratels made it two victories out of two games after two second-half goals settled their tie with Royal Queens at Guards Brigade Stadium, Asokoro, Abuja on Wednesday.

Royal Queens battled Naija Ratels to a standstill in the first half but they ran out of steam in the second half. Ratels got the curtain-raiser from the penalty spot in the 64th minute through Doosur Atume who grabbed her second goal of the Flying Officers Cup 2020. Royal Queens were yet to recover from the goal they conceded when Grace Obi struck in the 69th minute for second goal of the tourney as well.

Naija Ratels are through to the semi final despite with a game at hand against Edo Queens while Royal Queens must hope for a miracle to qualify. They must beat Kaduna Queens emphatically in the last group game while also hoping that Naija Ratels beat the defending champions.

KADUNA QUEENS 0-3 EDO QUEENS

Kaduna Queens have been eliminated from the Flying Officers Cup 2020 after they were thrashed 3-0 by the tournament reigning champions, Edo Queens on Wednesday at the Guards Brigade Stadium, Asokoro, Abuja.

Glory Osaghae opened the floodgate of goals in the 16th minute before Elizabeth Zirike doubled their advantage in the 25th minute. Edo Queens scored the third goal in the 51st minute through Super Falcons’ Osas Igbinovia.

Edo Queens are lifted to second in Group A with four points from two games and at least a draw should be sufficient to take them to the semi-final when they trade tackles with Naija Ratels. Kaduna Queens on their part have shipped in eight goals from two games and will face Royal Queens with nothing to lose.

CONFLUENCE QUEENS 2-2 BAYELSA QUEENS

Confluence Queens are on the brink of elimination from the Flying Officers Cup 2020 after their failure to protect their lead against favourites, Bayelsa Queens on Wednesday at the Guards Brigade Stadium, Asokoro, Abuja.

The Confluence Queens did the playing against Nasarawa Amazons but ended up on the losing side. They needed a win against the Restoration Girls and went for it right from the blast of the referee’s whistle. They got a deserved lead in the 13th minute through Joy Omewa and held on to the slender lead throughout the first-half but Bayelsa Queens equalised in the 51st minute through Joy Jerry who profited from a good pass from Mary Anjor.

The Confluence Queens were not daunted by their opponents equaliser and it was no surprise they went ahead again in the 57th minute through Winifred Eyebhoria who expertly converted a penalty kick after Suliyat Hassan was upended in the vital area by Bayelsa Queens goalkeeper, Rita Akarekor. The Restoration Girls came back again and scored their second through Juliet Sunday in the 65th minute.

Confluence Queens are third in Group B with a point behind Bayelsa Queens (four points) and Nasarawa Queens (six points). They will face Honey Badgers in their last group match knowing that they do not have their destiny in their hands while Bayelsa Queens will slug it out with Nasarawa Amazons aware that at least a draw should be enough to see them in the last four.

NASARAWA AMAZONS 2-0 HONEY BADGERS

Nasarawa Amazons were made to work really hard before they scored twice against Honey Badgers on Wednesday in Abuja.

Honey Badgers were whitewashed 7-0 by Bayelsa Queens in their first game and purists were expecting another thrashing at the Guards Brigade Stadium, Abuja but they got the shock of their lives.

The non-league side played as if their entire lives depended on securing a positive result. They succeeded in stopping the Lafia side from scoring in the first-half but the deadlock became broken in the 67th minute through Dooshima Tarnum before Chiemebere Opara made the points safe with the second goal in the 92nd minute.

Nasarawa Amazons are on top of Group B with six points from two games. They will face Bayelsa Queens with a relaxed mind next while Confluence Queens and Honey Badgers are involved in the other duel.

The Restoration girls showed they were no match for Honey Badgers who were 3-0 down at halftime before they shipped in four further goals in the second half.

Precious Vincent scored the curtain raiser in the sixth minute while Zainab Olopade and Mary Anjor added two more in the 33rd and 35th minutes to take a comfortable halftime lead.

Precious Vincent got her second of the game in the 51st minute and Joy Jerry was on hand to register the fifth goal in the 66th minute. Julliet Sunday and Anjor (her second of the game) added gloss to the result with the sixth and seventh goals in the 76th and 81st.

In the second game Royal Queens came back from a goal down to play a 1-1 draw with Edo Queens.

Taibat Odueke struck for Edo Queens in the 68th minute but Royal Queens got the equaliser through Chioma Olise in the 72nd minute.