2024 National Sports Festival: Team Delta deny IJA gold medal in women’s football

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

Nigeria’s U-17 women’s national team suffered a loss on penalties to Team Delta in the final match of the 2024 National Sports Festival women’s football event on Tuesday.

Both sides could not break the deadlock after 90 minutes despite several attempts to find the back of the net at the MKO Abiola Sports Complex, Kuto, Abeokuta.

The Invited Junior Athletes (IJA), represented by the Flamingos, hit the crossbar twice in each half.

Their opponents from Delta State also found the back of the net in the second half, but the goal was ruled out for offside.

During the game of wills, coach Nelly Orisakwe’s side prevailed 7-6 on penalties over Bankole Olowookere’s team.

The gold medalists scored seven out of their eight spot kicks while their opponents were able to convert six of their seven penalties.

Earlier, Team Ogun won the bronze medal match with a 2-0 victory against Team Osun in Ikenne thanks to goals from Damilola Adeyanju and Itunuoluwa Odeyiola.

Oluwaseun Oyediji

Oluwaseun Babatunde Oyediji is a multi-media sports journalist with over 10 years experience in Information Communication Technology (ICT), women's football, and beach soccer reportage.The prolific writer is the Media Assistant to Nigeria Beach Soccer League and Africa Beach Soccer Union as well as contributor on Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) website.He has covered multiple national and international football tournaments including Championship of African Nations (CHAN 2020), CAF Women's Champions League (2023), and Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2023).Since 2021, Oyediji has covered the NWFL Premiership especially the season ending Super Six Playoffs.A member of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Ogun state chapter is also the image maker of the Remo Sports Development Council under the leadership of Chief Falilat Ogunkoya and David Osuolale.

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