NWFL Premiership: Sabo Okala laments lack of funds as Confluence Queens struggle

By Saheed Afolabi

Confluence Queens’ manager, Sabo Okala, has blamed the club’s poor start to the 2024/2025 Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Premiership season on financial constraints that have hampered their ability to retain top players and attract new talent.

The Lokoja-based team has had a difficult start to the campaign, suffering two losses in as many matches.

Okala emphasized that the club’s struggles stem from the departure of 26 players during the summer transfer window, a gap that the club has not been able to fill adequately.

Okala, who previously managed Honey Badgers, remains optimistic about the team’s future but acknowledged that the process of rebuilding will take time. He believes the new players, who are still adapting to the team’s philosophy, will eventually help improve the club’s fortunes.

“A team that lost 26 players is a bit difficult. I will say, we are in a building process,” Okala told NigeriaFootball.ng exclusively.

“It’s not a palatable one, but there’s no room for excuses in as much as you have assembled players and you need the best from them. They need to give you the result.

“The fact is we will go back to the drawing board and see what will happen. I think new players coming in need to adapt to our philosophy which they are yet to come in terms with. We will get back to the drawing board and work out how to improve on our performances.”

The Confluence Queens boss also expressed his frustration with the financial challenges that have hindered the club from securing quality players during the transfer window. He appealed to the Kogi state government for more funding, which he believes is essential to address the club’s ongoing struggles.

“Definitely, it’s one of the biggest problems we are having because where you have regular players who are being poached by other teams with the monetary aspect of it because they pay them good money outside there, and that’s why we are clamoring for the state government to help us,” Okala said.

“We can’t continue to build teams, and every season we are struggling. We are supposed to be consolidating, not building. Money is 150 percent of the problem we are having now.”

The Confluence Queens will look to turn their fortunes around in their upcoming North Central derby against Nasarawa Amazons.