Horvel Angels stun Holders Fosla Academy to clinch 2025 HerGame Girls Football Championship title

Horvel Angels were crowned champions of the 2025 HerGame Girls Football Championship after defeating defending champions Fosla Academy 2–0 in a commanding final on Saturday at the Area 3 Sports Complex, Abuja.

This year’s edition marked a major leap in scale and quality, expanding from an Abuja-only competition to a regional showcase featuring 16 teams drawn from across the North Central zone, providing a more competitive atmosphere and uncovered new levels of talent and technical depth.

Horvel Angels set the tempo early, with Agatha John firing home a composed first-half finish following sustained attacking pressure. The contest was sealed in the second half when tournament revelation Lilian Odide delivered a clinical strike to secure the victory and prevent Fosla Academy from retaining their title.

Earlier in the day, SIK Paragon of Jos clinched third place after a narrow 1–0 win over Generation Next, earning the bronze prize of ₦100,000. Runners-up Fosla Academy received ₦150,000, while champions Horvel Angels claimed the top prize of ₦250,000.

In Individual accolades, Patricia Habila of Fosla Academy was named Most Valuable Player for her midfield brilliance, while Horvel Angels’ striker Lilian Odide finished as Top Scorer with six goals, concluding her superb tournament with the title-deciding strike. Flora Williams of SIK Paragon was voted Best Goalkeeper, having conceded just one goal.

Horvel Angels head coach, Ogbada Atta, commended his team’s resilience and discipline.

“The girls were exceptional from start to finish. They stayed disciplined, followed instructions and showed real hunger. Beating Fosla in a final is no small achievement. This win means everything to us.”

Fosla Academy’s head coach, Christopher Igbuku, praised his players despite the loss.

“We fought hard but Horvel were more decisive today. My players gave their all and I am proud of them. We will bounce back stronger. That is our tradition.”

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HerGame Foundation founder and tournament’s sole sponsor, Dr. Pat Ajuma Ayegba, expressed satisfaction with the championship’s growth and reaffirmed her mission to build a national platform for emerging female footballers.

“HerGame is fulfilling its purpose of discovering, empowering and projecting the next generation of female footballers,” she said. “Every girl who played here has a future in the game, and we will keep expanding this platform nationwide.”

The FCT FA board member and Head of Women’s Football Committee also acknowledged key supporters, emphasising the collaborative effort behind the tournament’s success.

“HerGame is built on collaboration and genuine support. I deeply appreciate the Nigeria Football Federation for donating match balls, and we are grateful for the one million naira financial support from the Chairman of the House Committee on Sports. Their contributions strengthened the competition and showed that investing in girls’ football is a shared responsibility.”

FCT FA Secretary and Head of the Organising Committee, Haruna Ilerika, praised the technical quality and overall execution of the event.

“The level of organisation, officiating and talent on display shows how far HerGame has come in just its second edition. The standard was top-class.”

With Horvel Angels lifting the 2025 crown and Fosla Academy taking second place, the HerGame Girls Football Championship continues to cement its place as one of Nigeria’s most impactful grassroots pathways for discovering and nurturing future stars of women’s football.

Among the dignitaries in attendance were the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Sports, Hon. Kabiru Amadu; Hajiya (Dr.) Nafisa Shehu Mohammed, President of the Road Safety Officers Wives Association (ROSOWA); Hajiya Amina Sani-Zango-Daura, Head of Women’s Football at the Nigeria Football Federation; former NFF President and Founder of FOSLA Academy, Alhaji Sani Lulu Abdullahi; and FCT FA Secretary, Haruna Ilerika.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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