Edo Queens Step Up WAFU-B Push with FC Robo Double-Header

Edo Queens Step Up WAFU-B Push with FC Robo Double-Header

By BSN Sports 

Reigning Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Premiership champions Edo Queens have intensified preparations for the forthcoming WAFU-B tournament in Burkina Faso with a two-leg Grade A friendly against FC Robo Queens of Lagos, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

The first leg, played at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City on Thursday, ended 1-0 in favour of FC Robo, with striker Ajakaye Opeyemi scoring the only goal in the 20th minute.

The two teams are scheduled to meet again in the second leg at the same venue on Friday, August 7, with kick-off set for 12 noon.

The friendly is part of a series of high-profile warm-up matches arranged by the Edo Queens management to fine-tune the team ahead of their WAFU-B play-off engagement in Burkina Faso later this month.

Speaking after Thursday’s encounter, Edo Queens technical manager Moses Aduku said the matches provide an important opportunity to assess the team’s strengths and weaknesses before the continental assignment.

“The two teams will also engage each other again tomorrow, Friday, August 7, in the second leg of the match. It is good we have this kind of assessment at home,” Aduku said.

“At least, we have been able to see some areas of weakness and strength in our team. Some of our players now have the opportunity to play because of the vacuum created by some of our best players who are on national assignment with the Falconets.

“Some new faces are also being tested to see how they blend with the older players. I’m not bothered about the result but happy with the quality of Robo FC. This is really good for us at this time. We are grateful to our management for this opportunity.”

Thursday’s encounter was Edo Queens’ first Grade A club friendly since the commencement of their close-camping programme.

The club’s management has also lined up additional friendly matches as part of the final phase of preparations before the team travels to Burkina Faso for the WAFU-B play-off.

Edo Queens will head into the competition without six key players currently with Nigeria’s U-20 women’s team, the Falconets, as they prepare for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland in September.

Despite the absence of some of their leading players, the Benin-based club are focused on building a competitive squad for their second WAFU-B campaign.

Edo Queens won the WAFU-B title in 2024 during their maiden appearance in the competition and will return to the regional tournament for the second time in three seasons, aiming to replicate that success and further enhance their reputation on the continental stage.