Heartland Queens will be up in arms against the Beninois Championnat National Feminine, Aigle Royal d’Adjara in the ongoing 2024 Betsy Obaseki Women Football Tournament (BOWFT) in the ancient city of Benin, Edo state.
The BOWFT last group game on Thursday at the turf of Western Boys High School in Benin City is historical for the sides not only would it be the first time ever game between the two it will go down in record as the first time the Owerri mainstreams will be engaging in a competitive football game with an international opposite and this time around from West African neighbours, Benin Republic. The game is at 10:00am.
Prior to this epic clash, the Owerri landladies have been clinical in performance at the yearly preseason showpiece keeping a hundred percent performances against the NWFL Championship sides, Fortress Ladies and Delta Babes. And for the Beninois Championnat National Feminine, Aigle Royal d’Adjara, they have actually hit brick walls against the NWFL Championship sides, Delta Babes and Fortress Ladies losing all the two matches in a row.
Even though the Owerri side have inched their foot in the quarterfinals prior to the Thursday’s clash the upscale premier leaguers want a flawless performance in the group’s games and will not only go for a outright victory but clean sheets, too as they are yet to concede a goal in the four-day old BOWFT.
Ahead of the Thursday’s clash, the head coach of the Owerri side, Obi Ogbala said his interest is to take the games calmly one after the other irrespective of the opposition and with mercurial results.
“Of course, we are in the quarterfinals yet I am focusing on getting hundred percent results in the group’s games. I want to make it three matches and three wins without conceding a goal.
“We have a test to contend with against the Benin Republic side, Aigle Royal d’Adjara on Thursday, and the aim is to win the game convincingly.
“We are not interested in what they played in the last two matches against Delta Babes and Fortress Ladies, good, they lost the matches but they remained a side we must attend to with all seriousness and respect.
“We will not want to fall prey to a sucker punch, they are an international side and have their pride to protect but we are determined to win and we must win.
“Thereafter, we will then take our minds to the quarterfinals opponents and go ahead to deal with the hurdle squarely.
“We are founding players of BOWFT, and BOWFT is in its fourth year, and time is ripe for us to push and push for the podium,” said the soft-spoken gaffer.
Heartland Queens are most likely to face the runners up in Group B and that will be between the Beninois champions, Espoir FC de Cotonou and NWFL Championship side, Brave Hearts as the first spot of the group has been taken by former Nigerian champions, Bayelsa Queens.
