FC Robo Queens are 2021 Flying Officer’s Cup champions

Nigerian Women Football League (NWFL) Premiership side, FC Robo Queens of Lagos have emerged champions of the 2021 Flying Officer’s Cup after a narrow 1-0 win over Edo Queens in the final decided yesterday at the Area 10 sports complex in Abuja.

Opeyemi Ajakaiye scored the only goal of the match for the debutants in the 26th minute when she released a scorcher from 33 yards for the match-winning goal.

FC Robo Queens coach, Emmanuel Orobosa Osahon, became the third manager to win the Flying Officers Cup after Gabriel Adejor (Edo Queens) and Moses Aduku (Bayelsa Queens).

In the third place match played before the final, Osun Babes FC defeated Confluence Queens of Lokoja 9-8 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in regulation time.

While Abisola Abiona missed her spot kick for Osun Babes, the duo of Hauwa Abdullahi and Oliver Jenifer was the villain for Confluence Queens.

Osun Babes defender, Kemi Abiodun converted the final penalty kick to win the third place match for the NWFL Premiership side.

At the end of the well attended pre-season tournament, which featured 16 clubs, Rukayat Shobowale (FC Robo Queens) emerged as the Young Player of the Tournament, Adaobi Okah’s goal against Sunshine Queens in the quarter-final was voted Goal of the Tournament, Obidinma Nkiruka of Edo Queens emerged as Goalkeeper of the Tournament while Ibinabo Georgewill of Confluence Queens won the Highest Goal Scorer Award.

Meanwhile, hosts Naija Ratels FC won the award for Fair Play, Ghana Police Ladies emerged as the Most Entertaining Team of the Tournament just as Taiwo Lawal of champions FC Robo Queens picked the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.

Flying Officer’s Cup is an annual football tournament sponsored by Barrister Paul Edeh’s Ratels Sports Foundation to honour and immortalize Nigeria’s first-ever female combat helicopter pilot, Tolulope Arotile who died from a head injury sustained in an accident at the Nigerian Air Force base in Kaduna on 14 July 2020.