News

NWFL players and officials rewarded at 2024 Soccer Queens Awards

Published

2 days ago

6:55 pm

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

The second edition of the Soccer Queens Awards took place in Benin City, Edo State capital, with women’s football players and officials from the Nigeria Women’s Football League (NWFL) receiving accolades after a rewarding 2023/2024 league season.

Edo Queens, which won the NWFL Premiership at the end of last season and capped it up with the West Africa Zone B (WAFU-B) title, which qualified the team for the 2024 CAF Women’s Champions League, won three of six awards up for grabs in the top flight category.

Emem Essien emerged as the Most Valuable Player; Suliyat Abideen won the Best Midfielder while the title-winning coach, Moses Aduku, got the Coach of the Season prize.

Folashade Ijamilusi of FC Robo Queens smiled home with the highest goal scorer award, Confluence Queens’ Sylvia Echefu clinched the best goalkeeper as Rivers Angels’ Alexander Florence earned the best defender award.

In the NWFL Championship award categories, Ijeoma Onweagba, who captained Ibom Angels to top-flight promotion, won the Most Valuable Player, while her coach, Edwin Okon, got the Coach of the Season.

Harmony Chidi (Imo Striker Queens) and Kafayat Bashiru (Osun Babes) both won the highest goal scorer award while Honey Badgers save hands, Stella Okereke sealed the best goalkeeper gong.

The awards according to the organizer Moses Bako Nagogo, seeks to reward the hard work and resilience of women’s footballers and officials for their efforts on and off the field.

The third edition is expected to take place in 2025 after the success of the first two editions both taking place in Benin City.

SOCCER QUEENS AWARDS 2024 AWARDEES

NWFL PREMIERSHIP

1. Most Valuable Player EMEM ESSIEN ( Edo Queens)

2. Highest Goalscorer FOLASHADE IJAMILUSI ( FC Robo)

3. Best Goalkeeper SYLVIA ECHEFU ( Confluence Queens)

4. Best midfielder SULIYAT ABIDEEN (Edo Queens)

5. Best Defender ALEXANDER FLORENCE (Rivers Angels)

6. Coach of the season MOSES ADUKU (Edo Queens)

NWFL CHAMPIONSHIP

1. Most Valuable Player Ijeoma Onweagba (Ibom Angels)

2. Highest Goalscorer Harmony Chidi (Imo Strikers) and Kafayat Bashiru (Osun Babes)