By Daily Sports Nigeria on October 12, 2024

Nigerian midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru scored a late winner for Nigeria in their 1-0 victory over Libya in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying tie at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium on Friday.

The Lazio midfielder, who came off the bench in the second half, found the back of the net in the 85th minute, as the Super Eagles retained their pole position in Group D.

The goal that was long in the offing, with Nigeria keeping the ultra-defensive Mediterranean Knights on the back foot for most of the encounter, gave Nigeria their second win in three games of the series after thrashing Benin Republic in their first game at the same venue.

Aiming for a draw to serve as a morale booster for subsequent games, the visitors resorted to delaying tactics, which saw their goalkeeper bagging a yellow card in the early stages of the second half.

Edo Queens will take on Abia Angels on Saturday in the first quarterfinal game of the 4th edition of the Betsy Obaseki Women Football Tournament, Saturday PUNCH reports.

The other quarterfinal games will have Heartland Queens confront Benin Republic’s Espoir FC, Bayelsa Queens take on Fortress Ladies, and Nasarawa Amazons battle Remo Stars Ladies.

Meanwhile, four teams—Naija Ratels FC of Minna, FC Robo of Lagos, Delta Babes FC, and Braveheart FC—that failed to qualify for the quarterfinals got N750,000 each as consolation prizes. Two more will join them on Saturday.

Chairman, Edo State Sports Commission, Yusuf Alli, made the presentation on behalf of the visioner and Edo State First Lady, Betsy Obaseki, at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, on Friday.

Alli described the first stage of the Betsy Obaseki tournament as keenly contested, noting that it is getting better with each edition.

He expressed optimism that a European club would feature in the next edition of the pre-season female football tournament in 2025.

He said, “Our plans for this tournament are to test the new girls we have, as the major thing is the continental glory we are chasing. We are also not losing our guard, as we are playing to win. The event is not bad but will get better next year.

“We will have a team from Europe next year, as we have two clubs from Benin Republic in this edition. When we said we would have teams from outside Nigeria, people did not believe we were doing everything to make the event bigger and better.”

“We want to grow the tournament more and ensure that it is added to the FIFA calendar to enable people to come here and play.

FC Robo coach, Osahon Orobosa, said his team exited the tournament early because he came with new and young girls.

Source Punch Ng

Posted October 12, 2024

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