In the ongoing WAFU B zone CAF Women’s Champions League qualifications, Nigeria’s Delta Queens defeated Athletico FC of Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire, 3-2, to go to the final.
The Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City served as the site of the CAF Women’s Champions League qualification.
In order to represent the zone in the next round of the continental championship, the two West African clubs competed for the same spot.
Five minutes into the game, the Ivorian women took the lead on a goal from Melissa Behinan, putting the Delta women down.
The Delta Queens’ attempts to tie the score before the first half’s finish were in vain.
Their efforts were rewarded in the 62nd minute of the second half when replacement Mercy Omokwo scored on a shot.
The game went into overtime due to the deadlock, and in the 98th minute Omokwo scored for Delta Queens by expertly outwitting the Athletico defense to score again.
In the final seconds of the first half of extra time, Delta Queens captain Taiwo Afolabi made it 3-1 for the home team, ending whatever chance the Ivorians had.
To comfort the Abidjan club, Joy Sunday, with five minutes remaining in the game, pulled back a goal to make the score 3-2.
The Delta Queens had been guaranteed N1 million by the Deputy Governor of Edo, Philip Shaibu, for each goal scored during the game.
Shaibu made the promise just before the team dispersed for the semifinal match in an effort to boost the Nigerian ladies’ performance.