Girls Play Sports football tourney: Northern finalists emerge

The road to the Northern Finals of the inaugural Girls Play Sports Football Tournament has come to an exciting climax, with top teams emerging from the four regional centers—Ilorin, Jos, Abuja, and Gombe.

The four teams—Moje Queens Feeder, Nazareth Queens, Adonai Taraba Queens, and Plateau United Queens—are set for a thrilling contest, with the winners advancing to represent Northern Nigeria in the national final.

These four teams, which emerged from 21 Northern entries, will converge in Abuja from September 25-27, 2024 to vie for the Northern crown and a coveted spot in the national finals.

In the Ilorin Centre, Moje Queens Feeder Team put on a dominant display, cruising to a 5-0 victory over Winning Stats Academy before securing a 3-1 win against Model Queens Academy to earn their place as Ilorin’s representatives.

Over at the FCT Centre, Nazareth Queens of Abuja made a statement with an emphatic 8-1 triumph over Ajaokuta Sports Academy Princesses from Kogi, booking their ticket to the next round.

Adonai Taraba Queens fought their way to the top of the Gombe zone, overcoming tough competition from teams in Adamawa and Gombe to claim their spot. Meanwhile, Plateau United Queens clinched the Jos Centre ticket with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Mighty Jets Mata.

As the tournament heads to its final stretch, the first semifinal on September 26 will see Plateau United Queens of Jos take on Nazareth Queens of Abuja, followed by the second semifinal between Moje Queens Feeder of Ilorin and Adonai Taraba Queens of Jalingo later that day. The third-place match and the highly anticipated final will be played on September 27.

All matches will be paid at the Old Parade Ground, Area 10.

The eventual Northern champions will go on to face CATS Ladies, winners of the Southern Conference, in the national showdown.