For the first time in the history of Nigeria’s Cup
competitions, one State claimed both the women and men titles as Nigeria National
League side, Bayelsa United and Bayelsa Queens were crowned champions of the
2021 AITEO Cup competition at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin city, Edo
state.
Bayelsa United and Bayelsa Queens emerged the winners of the
Men’s and Women’s 2021 competitions on Sunday.
In the men’s final, Bayelsa United defeated Nasarawa United
4-3 on penalties after the two teams had played out a thrilling 2-2 draw in
regulation time.
Before finally being crowned champions on Sunday, Bayelsa
United had enjoyed an amazing run in this year’s campaign, upending NPFL teams
Rangers International of Enugu, Lobi Stars of Makurdi, and Rivers United of
Port Harcourt.
They are thus the first team from Nigeria’s second-tier to
win the Cup in 20 years.
The last team to achieve the feat was the Port Harcourt
team, Dolphins FC, who thumped El-Kanemi Warriors 2-0 in 2001.
On their part, Nasarawa United’s trophy drought continues as
they are without any major silverware since the club’s formation almost two
decades ago.
Women’s final
Another Bayelsa team, Bayelsa Queens Football, emerged
winners of the women’s competition by defeating FC Robo of Lagos in the final
match.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the
Yenagoa-based Bayelsa Queens defeated FC Robo 4 – 2 to lift the 2021 trophy.
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| Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki presenting the prize to the winner |
Playing under the rains, the two sides opened the encounter in a hurry to undo each other.
But it was Bayelsa Queens who drew the first blood in the
10th minute through Mary Anjor, while FC Robo drew level when they scored six
minutes later.
NAN reports that Anjor restored their lead when she scored
in the 37th minute to increase her goals haul in this year’s Cup competition to
eight.
Bayelsa Queens, who were superior in their play during the
game, took a 3-1 lead before the interval.
They continued where they stopped by throwing in everything
to increase their goal haul, only for FC Robo to stand solid at the back.
FC Robo, who became more desperate to salvage the situation,
got their second goal in the 65th minute.
Bayelsa Queens, after missing some scoring chances, put the
game beyond FC Robo before the end with a fourth goal to take home the trophy
and the N10 million prize money.