N14m Up For Grab As 2nd Betsey Obaseki Women Soccer Tourney Begins Sept. 7

The second edition of the Betsey Obaseki Women Football Tournament has been scheduled to hold from September 7 to 17, 2022 in Benin.

Comrade Philip Shaibu, vice chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT) for the tournament announced this during a news conference yesterday in Benin.

Shaibu, who is also the deputy governor of Edo state, said the invitational tournament would feature ten clubs from the Nigerian Women Football League (NWFL) and two local-based clubs in the state.

The 10 NWFL clubs include Bayelsa Queens, Edo Queens, Nasarawa Amazons, Delta Queens, Confluence Queens and Osun Babes.

Others are Rivers Angels, Sunshine Queens, Naija Ratels and Royals Queens, while Fortress Ladies FC and Brave Heart FC will join as local-based to make a list of 12 teams.

The BoT announced a cash prize of N5 million for the winners with the first runners up taking N3 million while second and third runners up would go home with N1.5 million and N750,000 respectively.

Shaibu however added that other participating teams would get N500,000 each as a consolation prize.

Matches, he said would hold across four centres, which are Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, University of Benin Sports Complex and two state built mini stadia at the School of Health Technology and Western Boys Secondary School in Benin.

He said the draw for the competition had been scheduled for August 24, with the 36 state’ First Ladies billed to grace the closing ceremony.

He assured that the event has come to stay as a pre-season warmup for women professional football clubs in the country, with the organiser of the league assenting to it.

“This year’s event is going to be interesting. The theme for the 2021 event was used to promote girl child education; this year’s theme will be to campaign against illicit drugs and human trafficking.

“The implication is that the event has come to stay in Nigeria. Thanks to the First Lady (Mrs Obaseki) for keeping in touch to make it an annual event and pre-season event for women football premiership.”