Sports
How Flying Eagles Struggled Over Guinea
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles on Saturday struggled to a 2-0 win over Guinea’s national under-20 men’s football team in a 2011 African Youth Championship qualifier.
In the first round first leg match played at the Abuja National Stadium, goals from Omoh Ojabu and Edafe Egbedi made the difference for the home side.
The Flying Eagles side which paraded mostly players from the Golden Eaglets side that finished second at the 2009 FIFA World Championship in Nigeria failed to hit their rhythm in the first half.
They laboured to control the Guineans who were always looking dangerous on the break through the flanks with Aly Camara and Idrissa Yansane.
But an end-to-end game that produced no clear-cut scoring chances in the first half, the home side which lacked co-ordination upfront improved their game to shock the visitors.
Just after a minute into the second half, a sustained offensive drew out goalkeeper Aboubacar Camara whose clearance was looped high into the net by Ojabu from about 30 metres out.
About a minute later, the Flying Eagles extended their lead from a goalmouth melee that followed a left flank corner kick, when Egbedi at the far side pushed the ball into the net past the Guinean defence.
The Guineans however braced up to the challenge to push the Nigerians back, and with the Flying Eagles removing their foot from the throttle, Ahmed Musa’s efforts upfront were always lacking in support.
Despite substitute Sani Emmanuel’s presence to complement Musa, it was the Guineans that had most of the second half’s best scoring chances, especially with the introduction of Karamokoba Keita.
He, alongside Moustapha Kouyate, Aly Camara, Alseny Kourouma and Ibrahim camara kept the Nigerian defence led by skipper Fortune Chukwudi and goalkeeper Dami Paul busy till the end of the game.
Flying Eagles coach, John Obuh said the Guineans surprised his team with their impressive play, and was happy they were able to get away with a comfortable win.
“They surprised us. It was not what we saw of them on video tape that they displayed today, and I am just happy that we got the needed win,’’ he said.
Coach Sekou Sompare of Guinea could however not be reached for his comments on the match, as his team and their other officials left the pitch in anger.
The second leg tie of the first round pairing comes up in Conakry in two weeks time.
The qualifying competition is for the 2011 AYC scheduled for Libya.
In a statement released by the league, the competition is scheduled to take place from Friday, June 5 to Sunday, June 14, 2026, with six clubs set to battle for the league title at the end of the 2025/26 season.
NWFL Chief Operating Officer, Modupe Shabi, said the choice of Port Harcourt reflects the Rivers State Government’s continued support for women’s football and its successful hosting of the league’s Annual General Assembly last year.
The Super Six tournament will feature the top three teams from Group A and Group B of the regular season competing in a round-robin format, with each club playing five matches over nine days.
Qualified teams for the competition include defending champions Bayelsa Queens, Edo Queens, Rivers Angels, Robo Queens, Nasarawa Amazons, and debutants Abia Angels.
The NWFL Premiership has produced four different winners in the last five editions, with Rivers Angels winning in 2021, Bayelsa Queens claiming the title in 2022 and 2025, Delta Queens triumphing in 2023, and Edo Queens emerging champions in 2024.
The league also urged participating clubs to comply with all competition regulations and directives ahead of the championship. The Super Six will determine Nigeria’s representative for the WAFU-B qualifiers for a place at the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League and ultimately the 2027 FIFA Women’s Champions Cup.
Teams are expected to arrive on Friday, June 5, when the draw ceremony and pre-match meeting will also take place. Matchdays are scheduled for June 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14, with rest days in between before the tournament concludes with the trophy presentation ceremony.
