CATS Ladies clinch maiden Girls Plays Sports Football Tournament title

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

Lagos based Community Action Through Sports (CATS) Ladies emerged as winners of the inaugural Girls Plays Sports Football Tournament after a 2-1 win over Plateau United Queens in the final match of the competition at the FIFA Goal Project, Abuja, on Sunday.

The Northern zone champions, Plateau Queens went ahead in the ninth minute through Agnes Otata.

Southern zone Champions, CATS Ladies leveled the scoreline thanks to Ebube Anyanwu on the 50th minutes. Four minutes later, Anyanwu scored the second goal for CATS Ladies which sealed the title.

The winners smiled home with two million Naira cash prize while runners-up, Plateau Queens earned one million Naira prize alongside varying cash prizes.

“This success reflects the power of collaboration and our shared commitment to advancing grassroots women’s football and empowering the girl child through sports,” Initiator of the tournament and founder of Ayomidiran Foundation, Honourable Ayo Omidiran said.

The final was attended by several dignitaries including Secretary General Muhammad Sanusi, Girls Plays Sports ambassador and Nigerian Olympic legend, Mary Onyali, representative of Comptroller General Nigeria Customs Service, Chairman of Board of Nigerian Ports Authority, Senator Adebayo Adeyeye, Chairman Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Honorable Gbenga Elegbeleye.

Others present are NFF Director of Competition Ruth David, Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Chief Operating Officer (COO) Modupe Shabi, NWFL board member Rukayat Alaya, Secretary General Sports Writer Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Ikenna Okonkwo, and All Progressive Congress (APC) chieftain from Ogun state Gbenga Obadara.