Ogbonda Whyte on Confluence Queens humiliation: ‘Loss of concentration cost us’

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

Confluence Queens coach, Ogbonda Whyte has blamed the loss of concentration for his team’s 4-0 loss to FC Robo Queens in the final match of the 2022/2023 Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Premiership regular season.

The Lokoja-based side held Lagos Landladies for 43 minutes before Folashade Ijamilusi muscled her way into the visitors’ defense and opened the scoring a minute later and three more goals in the second half from Rukayat Shobowale, Rukayat Oladiti, and Ijamilusi’s second of the match sealed the big win for Emmanuel Osahon’s side.

Whyte was happy with the overall performance of his team throughout the regular season despite the big loss as he qualified Confluence Queens for the Super Six immediately after his return to the saddle.

“We didn’t want to lose by a wide margin. I will say in football, you win some and lose some games. It has to do with a loss of concentration in the second half.” Whyte told www.nigeriafootball.ng

“I am a very happy coach bearing in mind that this is the second time I would be qualifying Confluence Queens for the Super Six. The first one was done in my first year in 2019 when I took the team to the Super Four at Agege Stadium, Lagos.

“A week before the start of this season, I was called upon again to ensure that I deliver the Super Six mandate which was delivered. I will say that I am a happy coach.”

Ogbonda led Confluence to the NWFL Premiership Super Four final in 2019 when they lost 1-0 to Rivers Angels and the Ibom Angels gaffer is confident about winning the league and representing the country on the continent.

“All the six teams that have qualified for the Super Six are aspiring to ensure that they qualify their teams to represent Nigeria at the CAF Women’s Champions League,” he continued.

“Confluence Queens is not excluded from that contest. Our target is to win the league and represent Nigeria on the continent. We are working assiduously to ensure we achieve that aim. We have the team to make an impact at the Super Six.

“The season is a very good one for us and NWFL. From the beginning of the league till the final match, some teams were not sure of their qualification. The season is keenly contested.

“I came in a few days before the commencement of the league when the initiation had already been done. We don’t have many players and hardly have replacements for our first eleven.

“For instance, there is no replacement for my Central defender. When a player is injured, we are done for. Notwithstanding, we were able to manage what we have on the ground to get to where we are now.”