Skip to main content

See What Happened in Abuja With Ekiti Queens FC

BAORESS BABES’ RESILIENCE SHINES AS EKITI STUN NAIJA RATELS WITH COMEBACK VICTORY IN BWARI

Tosin Popoola 



Ekiti Queens produced a spirited comeback to defeat Naija Ratels 2-1 in a thrilling Matchday 14 encounter of the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) played at the Bwari Township Stadium, Abuja, on Wednesday, April 8, 2026.

The visitors, nicknamed the Baoress Babes, showed character and tactical discipline to overturn a first-half deficit, handing the home side a painful defeat in front of their supporters.

Naija Ratels had taken the lead in the 37th minute through Paulina Orshio, who calmly converted from the penalty spot after a foul by Ekiti Queens centre-back, Foluke Opeyori. The goal gave the hosts confidence as they pressed for more before the break.

Coach Jacob Vandi’s side, however, responded with urgency, launching wave after wave of attacks in search of an equaliser. Despite their dominance in possession, the first half ended with Ekiti Queens trailing by a lone goal.

The attacking trio of Ismail Zainab, Joke Adeyemo, and Olamide Olanrenwaju remained lively throughout the opening half, but their efforts could not yield a breakthrough against a determined Ratels defence.

At the restart, tactical changes by Coach Vandi proved decisive, as Endurance Omoraka and Omobola Falese were introduced to stabilize the midfield and strengthen the defensive flanks, replacing Ololade Isiaka and Basirat Alatise respectively.

The substitutions shifted the momentum, with Ekiti Queens taking control of the midfield battle. Their persistence paid off in the 67th minute when Patience Yaro struck a brilliant equaliser from the edge of the box, firing home while backing the goal to level the scores.

Just seven minutes later, the turnaround was complete. Ismail Zainab, who had been a constant threat on the right wing, capitalised on a defensive lapse to put Ekiti Queens ahead for the first time in the match, sending the away bench into wild celebrations.

From that moment, the visitors showed composure and resilience, with captain Miracle Ohaeri marshalling the defence effectively to keep the hosts at bay until the final whistle, securing a hard-fought 2-1 victory on the road.

Back in Ekiti, supporters of the club, led by the Technical Advisor on Sports Development to Governor Biodun Oyebanji, Dr Mrs Olusola Osetoba, celebrated the team’s performance and praised the players and coaching crew for their determination.

Ekiti Queens will now shift focus to their Matchday 15 fixture, where they are set to host Pacesetters of Oyo State at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium in Ado Ekiti, marking their long-awaited return to home ground after being banished in 2025.


EKITI QUEENS MEDIA OFFICER 

TOSIN J. POPOOLA 

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Emure on the go January 22

Online Youth Symposium, The Blueprint ’26, to Hold January 22 An online symposium themed The Blueprint ’26: Redefining Our Youth – Building Our Path Towards a Shared Prosperity in 2026 is scheduled to hold on January 22, 2026, via Zoom by 8:00 pm (WAT), with a focus on youth empowerment, leadership development, and sustainable community growth. The event is convened by youth development advocate Mr Taiwo Abel Agbede, who described the initiative as a purposeful effort to reposition young people as key drivers of social and economic transformation within their communities. Mr Agbede said the vision of The Blueprint ’26 is to equip youths with the right mindset, leadership orientation, and practical knowledge needed to thrive in a rapidly changing socio-economic environment, stressing that the symposium is designed to inspire action, responsibility, and collaboration rather than mere discussion. He noted that the programme is driven by the urgent need to address youth unemployment, ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Walelomo Drops One, Gets One

Ekiti Govt Appoints Olawale Omoyeni as Grassroots Sports Media Aide (L-R) Omoyeni, Dr Osetoba  Popular media professional and member of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Ekiti State Chapter, Olawale Omoyeni, has been appointed as Media Aide on Grassroots Sports by the Office of the Technical Adviser on Sports Development to Governor Biodun Oyebanji. The appointment was conveyed in a letter signed by the Technical Adviser on Sports, Dr. Mrs. Olusola Osetoba, which outlined the responsibilities and expectations attached to the position. Fondly called “Walelomo,” Omoyeni is tasked with providing consistent and effective media coverage for grassroots sports activities in line with the vision of Governor Oyebanji for sports development in the state. The appointment takes immediate effect and comes with monthly financial remuneration. Reacting to the development, Omoyeni expressed gratitude to the Technical Adviser and pledged to discharge his duties diligently and p...
Post a Comment
Read more

Omoyeni parts ways with Ekiti FA

  Olawale Omoyeni Resigns as Ekiti FA Media Officer Olawale Omoyeni has officially stepped down from his position as the Media Officer of the Ekiti State Football Association, as contained in a resignation letter dated January 19, 2026. In the letter addressed to the Association and the general public, Omoyeni stated that his decision was taken to enable him pursue other life opportunities and further his professional career. He expressed sincere appreciation to the Ekiti State Football Association for the privilege to serve and for the opportunity to contribute to the development of football in the state. Omoyeni also wished the football family in Ekiti State sustained success under the leadership of Aare Oluwole Oloworemo and thanked all stakeholders for their support during his tenure.
Post a Comment
Read more