By Wale Mustapha
Naija Ratels head coach Samson Keshi has applauded his players following their goalless draw against Bayelsa Queens in the final group-stage match of the Nigeria Women’s Football League (NWFL) held on Wednesday in Abuja.
The result was enough to secure the Abuja-based club a place in the Super Six playoffs—the season-ending tournament that will determine the 2025 NWFL champions.
Speaking after the match, Keshi praised the team’s performance against what he described as one of the toughest sides in the league.
“I’ve played Bayelsa Queens almost two to three times now, and I know they are one of the best teams in the country,” Keshi said.
“I give my girls one hundred percent praise because for them to come out with a point and qualify for the Super Six ahead of others in our zone is a big achievement.”
Keshi also assured fans of the team’s commitment to success in the upcoming playoffs.
“The Super Six will be a different ball game,” he said. “I promise we’ll give it our all and aim to reach the final.”
Naija Ratels will join defending champions Edo Queens, Bayelsa Queens, Nasarawa Amazons, and Rivers Angels in the Super Six tournament, which is scheduled to take place at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne from May 8 to 17, 2025.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career 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.
