Edo Governor gifts N50m to Edo Queens after WAFU B Triumph

Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has announced a cash reward of N50 million for Edo Queens Football Club following their outstanding performance in the 2025/26 season, which saw the female side claim both the Nigeria Women's Football League title and the 2026 WAFU B Women's Champions League crown. The governor made the announcement on Tuesday during a reception held in honour of the club at the Festival Hall, Government House, Benin City, where the players and their officials were formally presented with their trophies. Their return to Edo State had already been marked with a hero's welcome, as the team was taken on a victory parade from the airport through Airport Road to Osadebe Avenue, with jubilant supporters lining the streets to celebrate their continental success in Burkina Faso. Edo Queens had defeated Ghana's Ampem Darkoa Ladies in a keenly contested final in Ouagadougou, with the match ending 2 2 after regulation time before the Nigerian side held their nerve to win 4 1 on penalties and lift the WAFU B title, a result that also secured their place in the 2026 CAF Women's Champions League. Speaking at the event, Okpebholo praised the players for the grit and composure they showed throughout the tournament, noting that he had sensed the team's chances during the tense penalty shootout after watching the goalkeeper's calmness under pressure. He said the confidence displayed by the goalkeeper appeared to unsettle the Ghanaian side at the crucial moment and gave Edo Queens the edge they needed to clinch victory. According to the governor, the trophy carries weight not just for Edo people but for the country as a whole, and he commended the players for their doggedness on the pitch as well as the coaching crew and other officials who supported the campaign. He announced the N50 million reward as recognition of their efforts. Okpebholo further pledged that his administration would continue to invest in the team, promising more opportunities for the players to grow and thrive in the sport. Also speaking at the event, the Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, Amadin Enabulele, lauded the players for winning both the domestic league and the continental qualifiers in a single season, describing it as a feat that called for grit, unity and self belief. He credited the club's new management for sustaining the team's momentum while pushing standards even higher. The latest achievement adds to Edo Queens' growing reputation as one of the leading forces in Nigerian women's football, having earlier topped the NWFL Super Six table with 10 points to claim their second league title, ahead of Bayelsa Queens and Nasarawa Amazons. With the WAFU B crown secured, attention now turns to the CAF Women's Champions League, where Edo Queens will be looking to make a mark on the continental stage.