Nasarawa Amazons Edge Naija Ratels on Penalties to Reach Federation Cup Quarter-Finals

Nasarawa Amazons Football Club of Lafia secured their place in the quarter-finals of the 2026 President’s Federation Cup after defeating Naija Ratels 4-3 in a penalty shootout following a thrilling 1-1 draw in regulation time at the Zaria Township Stadium in Kaduna State.

The Round of 16 encounter marked a historic occasion as it was the first women’s football match played at the newly renovated Zaria Township Stadium. The game attracted a large crowd, with many spectators expressing excitement at watching women’s football live for the first time and applauding the Nigeria Football Federation for bringing the competition closer to the local community.

Nasarawa Amazons took a deserved lead in the 27th minute through Okah Adaobi Judith, who unleashed a stunning strike from outside the penalty area to beat the goalkeeper and put the Lafia-based side ahead.

The Amazons dominated large spells of the first half, displaying composure and attacking quality despite failing to convert several additional scoring opportunities. Their efforts ensured they went into the break with a 1-0 advantage.

After the restart, both teams raised the intensity as they battled for control of the midfield. Nasarawa Amazons continued to create chances but were unable to find a second goal that would have put the contest beyond their opponents.

Their lead was eventually cancelled out in the 86th minute when a defensive lapse allowed Naija Ratels to score the equaliser, forcing the match into a penalty shootout after regulation time ended level.

In the decisive shootout, Nasarawa Amazons kept their nerve to emerge 4-3 winners. Goalkeeper Chioma Okoye proved to be the hero of the day, producing two crucial saves to deny Naija Ratels and secure her side’s passage into the last eight.

The victory sends the Lafia Landladies into the quarter-finals, where they will face fellow Nigeria Women Football League side Edo Queens in what promises to be a highly anticipated Federation Cup showdown.

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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