Governor Okpebholo rewards Edo Queens with N50m after NWFL, WAFU B triumph
Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has rewarded Edo Queens with N50m after the club won the 2025/26 Nigeria Women‘s Football League (NWFL) title and successfully defended its WAFU-B CAF Women’s Champions League qualifying title in Burkina Faso, Made In Africa Sport reports.
The champions returned to Benin on Tuesday to a hero’s welcome, with government officials, sports administrators, stakeholders, supporters and fans turning out at the Benin Airport to celebrate their latest continental success.
The team was then taken on a victory parade from the airport through Airport Road to Osadebey Avenue, where Governor Okpebholo received the players and officials amid cheers from supporters.
Edo Queens defeated Ghanaian champions Ampem Darkoa Ladies in a dramatic final in Ouagadougou to retain the WAFU-B title and earn a place at the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League in South Africa.
The victory completed a remarkable domestic and continental campaign for the Nigerian champions, who had earlier won the NWFL Super Six to qualify for the WAFU-B tournament.
Enabulele praises Edo Queens players, coaches and government support
Speaking at the reception, Executive Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission Desmond Enabulele described the back-to-back successes as another landmark in the state’s sporting resurgence.
Enabulele said the NWFL Super Six victory gave Edo Queens the opportunity to represent Nigeria in the WAFU-B qualifiers, where they successfully defended the title they previously won.
He attributed the team’s achievements to the commitment of the players, coaches and management, alongside sustained financial backing from the Edo State Government.
The sports commission chairman specifically praised Okpebholo for releasing funds promptly for sporting programmes, saying adequate financing remained central to the development of sports.
Enabulele singled out Atume Doosuur, Esther Chioma Moses, Oluwakemi Adegbuyi and assistant captain Valentina Uroko for their performances during the campaign.
He also praised head coach Moses Aduku, describing him as one of the finest female football coaches in Nigeria.
Aduku was unavailable for the WAFU-B tournament because he was on national duty with the Falconets, prompting Edo Queens to bring in Bendel Insurance head coach Kennedy Boboye.
Enabulele thanked Boboye for accepting the assignment and guiding the team to another continental triumph.
The sports commission chairman also acknowledged the contribution of Edo APC chairman Jarrett Tenebe, who supported the team during the NWFL Super Six in Port Harcourt and later travelled to Burkina Faso for the WAFU-B campaign.
Enabulele said Tenebe’s contribution deserved recognition regardless of political considerations.
“This is not about politics. It is about showing sincere gratitude to a deserving person, irrespective of class or status,” he said, as quoted by Daily Times Anchor.
Governor recalls tense Ghana final
Okpebholo praised the players for their fighting spirit and said he had remained confident that Edo Queens would overcome Ampem Darkoa despite the tension surrounding the final.
The governor said an earlier victory over the Ghanaian side in the tournament could have produced a different outcome in the final, but he trusted the players to rise to the occasion when it mattered most.
“If you had won the first match against Ampem Darkoa Ladies of Ghana, they would have defeated you in the finals,” he said.
Okpebholo said he believed the team would make Edo proud because of the importance of the trophy to the state.
“I was very confident that our girls would make us proud, as this cup means a lot to our people,” he said.
The governor also recalled the decisive penalty shootout in the final, particularly praising the goalkeeper for anticipating the Ghanaian player’s effort and making the crucial save.
“That brilliant save gave us the energy and confidence we needed,” Okpebholo said.
He said the save changed the momentum of the shootout, adding that he could see the Ghanaian players beginning to lose confidence.
“At that point, I knew we had the advantage,” he said.
Okpebholo promised that his administration would continue to support the team and create opportunities for the players to develop.
“As a government, we will continue to support and reward the team and create more opportunities for them to excel,” he said.
The governor subsequently announced the ₦50m cash reward for the WAFU-B champions.
Edo’s growing presence in national teams
Enabulele also used the reception to highlight the growing presence of Edo athletes in Nigeria’s national teams.
He disclosed that six Edo players are currently part of the Falconets squad representing Nigeria at the FIFA Women’s Under-20 World Cup in Poland.
Seven Edo players are also members of Nigeria’s Under-19 girls’ cricket team that qualified for the World Cup, with an Edo player serving as captain.
According to Enabulele, preparations for the cricket World Cup are being conducted at the Edo High Performance Centre.
The developments, he said, reflected the state’s growing contribution to national sports beyond football.
Edo Queens will now turn their attention to the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League in South Africa, where they will compete against some of Africa’s leading women’s clubs.
Having claimed the NWFL title and retained their WAFU-B crown, the Nigerian champions will be seeking another strong continental campaign when the Champions League begins.