Sports
Edo Queens Win Maiden NWFL Premiership Trophy

For the first time in their history, Edo Queens have emerged as the champions of the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Premiership.
The Benin City-based team clinched the title in dramatic final-day showdown following a 1-1 draw against Bayelsa Queens at the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa, on Matchday Five of the 2023/2024 Super Six on Sunday.
Despite needing a win to secure their position regardless of other results, Moses Aduku’s side managed to top the standings.
They had to keep an eye on the match between seven-time champions Rivers Angels and Super Six debutants Heartland Queens in Nembe, which also had title implications.
Bayelsa Queens nearly took the lead in the sixth minute when Mary Anjor’s cross was mishandled by Mercy Omokwo, who missed an open net. This miss proved costly as Edo Queens capitalized on a corner kick in the 29th minute, from which Emem Essien scored an acrobatic goal from inside the six-yard box.
At half time, with the match between Rivers Angels and Heartland Queens still goalless, both teams in Yenagoa intensified their search for a decisive goal.
Four minutes into the second half, Bayelsa Queens equalized through Zainab Olopade, who converted a free kick following a foul on Anjor near the box.
In Nembe, Rivers Angels took the lead in the 72nd minute with a goal from Olamide Adugbe, which shifted the table in their favour.
This put pressure on both teams in Yenagoa to find another goal to reclaim the top spot. Bayelsa Queens needed more goals to surpass their South-South neighbors.
However, Heartland Queens played spoilers for Rivers Angels as substitute Emmanuella James scored from a goalmouth scramble, equalizing on the dot of 90 minutes. This twist returned the title race in favor of Edo Queens.
Ultimately, both deciding matches ended in 1-1 draws, securing the league title for Edo Queens for the first time.
On their part, Rivers Angels missed out on their chance to win a record-breaking eighth title to finish second, while Bayelsa Queens also fell short of claiming their sixth title to end in third after successes in 2004, 2006, 2007, 2018, and the 2021/2022 seasons.
Edo Queens will now represent Nigeria at the 2024 West Africa Zone B (WAFU-B) Women’s Champions League Qualifiers, with the opportunity to qualify for the fourth edition of the CAF Women’s Champions League.
In addition to the giant trophy, the Benin Arsenals received a cash prize of 10 million naira after securing 10 points. The first runners-up, Rivers Angels, were awarded 5 million naira, edging out Bayelsa Queens, who received 3 million naira, due to their superior goals scored despite both teams being tied on nine points.
Meanwhile, Nasarawa Amazons edged Confluence Queens 1-0 in the last game of the Super Six in Yenagoa.
It took Regina Omede’s second-minute goal to separate both sides in the North Central Derby.
Nasarawa Amazons finished fourth with seven points, ahead of fifth Heartland Queens and sixth Confluence Queens, who both ended the tournament with three points each.
On individual awards, FC Robo Queens’ Folashade Ijamilusi, who scored eight goals this season, won the season’s top goal scorer award ahead of Goodness Osigwe (Edo Queens) and Ojiyovwi Kesiena (Nasarawa Amazons), who both scored seven goals.
Rivers Angels’ Morufa Ademola was voted the goalkeeper of the season after her heroic efforts led the Jewels of Rivers to a second-place finish at the season-ending Super Six.
The Fair Play award went to the hosts Bayelsa Queens, who finished third.
Sports
Son Heung-min To Miss Spurs’ Europa League Decider Against Frankfurt

Tottenham Hotspur will be without star forward Son Heung-min for their crucial Europa League quarter-final second leg against Eintracht Frankfurt, manager Ange Postecoglou confirmed on Wednesday.
The South Korean international has been nursing a foot injury in recent weeks and did not travel with the squad to Germany.
Son also missed Spurs’ 4-2 Premier League defeat at Wolverhampton on Saturday.
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“Sonny didn’t travel in the end, he’s the only one that misses out,” Postecoglou told reporters ahead of Thursday’s clash at the Waldstadion.
“He’s been battling with his foot problem for a few weeks now and managed to play through it. He trained the last few days, he tried to train yesterday and it wasn’t right, so we made the decision to leave him at home to allow him to recuperate.”
Son has been a key figure in Spurs’ European campaign this season, registering three goals and an assist across nine Europa League appearances.
The tie remains finely balanced after a 1-1 draw in the first leg in London, where Pedro Porro’s equalizer cancelled out Hugo Ekitike’s early goal for Frankfurt.
A win on Thursday would secure a place in the semi-finals.
Postecoglou, whose side has struggled in domestic competition and sits 15th in the Premier League, dismissed concerns over mounting pressure on his position.
“If you don’t think I’m a good coach, that’s not going to change because of what happens tomorrow,” he said. “We’ve got a great opportunity tomorrow, and I’m not going to let that slip by without fighting tooth and nail.”
On the opposite bench, Frankfurt boss Dino Toppmoeller expects Spurs to be fully focused on the Europa League, brushing aside suggestions that their poor league form could offer his team an advantage.
“Their latest league setback plays absolutely no role because their only focus is the Europa League,” Toppmoeller said.
Despite Frankfurt sitting third in the Bundesliga, he refused to label his side as favourites. “It doesn’t matter whether any team is the favourite or not.”
Frankfurt will also be without their captain and first-choice goalkeeper Kevin Trapp, who remains sidelined through injury. Brazilian shot-stopper Kaua Santos is expected to continue in goal.
With the tie poised on a knife-edge, Toppmoeller remained unfazed by the possibility of the match going to penalties — a scenario often discussed when English and German sides meet in European competition.
“I have absolutely no fear of a shootout, because I have total confidence in the boys. And if it comes to penalties, we’ll win on penalties,” he said.
Sports
Gabonese Striker, Aaron Boupendza Dies After Tragic Fall In China

Gabonese football has been thrown into mourning following the death of international striker Aaron Boupendza, who passed away on Wednesday at the age of 28.
The player reportedly fell from the 11th floor of a building in China, where he was plying his trade with Zhejiang FC.
The tragic news was confirmed by the Gabonese Football Federation (Fegafoot) in an official statement shared on X.
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“The Gabonese international died following a fall from the 11th floor of his building in China, where he was playing for Zhejiang FC,” the statement read.
“Aged 28, Boupendza leaves us with the memory of a great striker who left his mark on the CAN (Africa Cup of Nations) in Cameroon,” it added.
Boupendza, known for his sharp attacking instincts, was a key part of Gabon’s national team at the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations, where the Panthers reached the knockout stage before being eliminated by Burkina Faso in the round of 16.
In the wake of his death, Fegafoot extended its sympathies, stating: “Fegafoot and the entire Gabonese football family offer their sincere condolences to his biological family.”
Gabon’s president-elect Brice Oligui Nguema also joined in paying tribute to the striker, writing on X: “It is with immense sadness that I learn of the tragic death of Aaron Boupendza, a talented centre-forward who brought honour to Gabonese football.”
Meanwhile, local media outlet Gabon 24 reported that an investigation has been opened to determine the exact cause of the incident, noting that “the exact circumstances of this tragedy are still unclear.”
Boupendza was born in Moanda and began his professional journey with French club Bordeaux in 2016, spending much of his early career on loan across France.
His breakthrough came in Turkey with Hatayspor, where he finished as top scorer in the 2020–21 Super Lig season.
The striker’s career saw him lift the Qatar FA Cup with Al Arabi, before further stints with Al Shabab in Saudi Arabia, FC Cincinnati in Major League Soccer, and Romania’s Rapid Bucharest.
He had only joined Zhejiang FC in January of this year.
Sports
Oraganisers Unveil Gateway Games Logo, Theme Song, Mascot

The communication materials for the 22nd National Sports Festival, tagged the Gateway Games, have been unveiled.
Biztellers reports that the materials include the Games’ logo, theme song, and mascot.
The three were unveiled at a colourful ceremony at the June 12 Cultural Centre in Abeokuta. The Deputy Governor, Noimot Salako-Oyedele stood in for the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun.
The logo is mainly in Ogun State theme colours of lemon green and yellow. The unveiling of the logo was immediately followed by that of the Theme Song of the Festival.
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It is titled ‘E’kaabo’ a Yoruba word for ‘Welcome’ as Ogun State prepares to welcome thousands of athletes, officials, tourists and VIPs when the 22nd National Sports Festival comes alive on May 16. The Theme Song was composed by Dr Bayo Adepetun.
The jam-packed hall roared in excitement when the festival’s mascot was eventually unveiled.
Named ‘Omo Ogun’, the animated version strolled on the stage and saluted the audience before getting down the stage to greet the dignitaries.