Flying Officers Cup 21: Asantewaa Wins Opening Day Match WOTM

Ghana Police Ladies FC goalkeeper, Nana Asantewaa put up a superb performance against Naija Ratels FC to earn herself the player of the match. 

The Ghanaian goalie rescued her side from conceding goals against Naija Ratels FC in the opening game of the 2021 Flying Officers Cup. 

Asantewaa first showed class when she acrobatically denied Zipere Agama the chance of scoring the first goal in the first ten minutes of play.

In the 40th minute, Nana Asantewaa also made another acrobatic save to deny Oladeji Bunmi, who positioned herself at a very good position to shoot towards goal. 

In the second half, Asantewaa continued from where she stopped as she put up another brilliant save in the 67th minute from Adugbe Olamide.

In her reaction, an excited Nana Asantewaa expressed her happiness and promised to do more for her team to go further in the competition. 

"I am very excited over this and am glad we could get something out of this game. 

"It isn't just about me, but about the whole team. We have worked so hard and we need to keep working harder and improve as a team here.

"Everybody in the team have been very supportive and that's the kind of spirit that exist amongst us. We look forward to our next game and hope it's going to be favourable." She concluded. 

Such a fantastic display from Nana Asantewaa coupled with a solid defense force could go a long way in propelling the Ghanaian side to the summit of the 2021 Flying Officers Cup as they look forward to their next game against Honey Badgers FC on Wednesday, October 13.

Flying Officers Cup 2021: It's Action-Packed Monday As FC Robo Takes On Bayelsa Queens, Honey Badgers Tackle Royal Quuens

Monday promises to be an action-packed day at the ongoing Flying Officers Cup 2021, with Bayelsa Queens, FC Robo Queens, Confluence Queens and Honey Badgers all in action.  

Royal Queens and Honey Badgers will kick-off matches on Monday, while the biggest match of the day would be the match between defending Champions Bayelsa Queens and FC Robo Queens by 10:30 pm. 

Osun Babes FC and Prince Kazeem Eletu Queens will battle themselves at exactly 1 pm on Monday, while the last game at 3 pm would be between SGH Academy and Confluence Queens.

On an opening day, Naija Ratels played a goalless draw against Ghana Police Ladies FC, in a game where a lot of goalscoring chances were lost.  

Monday fixtures: 

Royal Queens Vs Honey Badgers (8 am)

Bayelsa Queens Vs FC Robo Queens (10:30 am)

Osun Babes Vs Prince Kazeem Eletu (1 pm)

SGH Academy FC Vs Confluence Queens (3 pm).

Flying Officers Cup 2021: Fiercely Contested Opener Ends In A Goalless Draw

Naija Ratels started their 2021 Flying Officers Cup campaign with a goalless draw against Ghana Police Ladies at the Area 10 Sports Complex on Sunday evening.  

The opening match of the biggest Women Football Pre-season Championship started in a spectacular form, with Naija Ratels dominating from the beginning and had some great scoring chances, but failed to make good use of it. 

Coach Bankole Olowookeere of Naija Ratels FC started the game with Ohia Doris in goal alongside, Oladeji Bunmi, Adesina Itunuoluwa, Oyinlola Olamide, Ali Paulina, Anani Oluwaseun, Emmanuel Blessing, Adugbe Olamide, Zipeere Agama, Boigyande Loveth, and Folorunsho Aminat. 

Coach Frank Oswald gave starting shirts to Nana Asantewaa, Susana Faakyewaa, Ivy Kolli, Vida Opoku, Cynthia Adjei, Vinoria Kuzagbe, Victoria Teye Williams, Mary Berko, Jane Ayieyam, Deborah Afriyie, and Juanita Aguadze.

In the first ten minutes of the game, Ghana Police Ladies goalie, Nana Ama Asantewaa made an acrobatic save to prevent Agama Zipere from scoring the first goal of the game.

Naija Ratels FC missed three good chances in the first 19 minutes of the game, Agama and Adugbe being the biggest culprit. 

In the 24th minute, Olamide Adugbe superbly worked the ball down the right, going past Jane Ayieyam, but her shot was too weak for Nana Ama Asantewaa.

Five minutes from half time, Ghana Police Ladies goalie, Nana Ama Asantewaa made another good save from Oladeji Bunmi's effort.

Juanita Aguadze in the 44th minute thought she had beaten Ohia Doris in goal for Naija Ratels but the latter did well to block her effort.

Zipere Agama after missing some chances in the first half continued from where she stopped as she ballooned the ball from a very tight angle in the 49th minute before being replaced by Aminat Bello four minutes later.

Ghana Police Ladies FC came out in the second half to upset the host but Doris Ohia briliantly saved  Naija Ratels from conceding.

There was a scary moment for the host in the 69th minute as Ghana Police Ladies FC saw their effort hitting the cross bar.

Juanita Aguadze in the 73rd minute tried to score for Ghana Police Ladies  but her effort could not find the back of the net.

Naija Ratels FC will face Royal Queens FC of Warri in their next game on tuesday while Ghana Police Ladies FC square up with Honey Badgers FC on October 13.

Games will continue on monday, with Royal Queens battling Honey Badgers in the first match of the day by 8:am, Bayelsa Queens and FC Robo will play by 10:30am, Osun Babes and Prince Kazeem Eletu Queens will come up against each other by 1pm and finally SGH Academy FC and Confluence Queens will play the last game of the day by 3pm.

Flying Officers Cup 2021: SGH Sports Academy, Kaduna Queens In, Rivers Angels, Oasis Out As Tournament Kick-Off.

Following the withdrawal of NWFL Premiership Champions, Rivers Angels from participating at the 2021 edition of the Flying Officers Cup, Lagos Based side SGH Academy, who were on standby for the tournament have been asked by the Organisers to replace them.

The CAF Women Champions League WAFU B' finalist officially pulled out of the Pre-season tournament on Friday evening, citing doubt in players level of fitness. 

Also, another stand-by team, Kaduna Queens will now get the opportunity to compete at the third edition of the tournament after they replaced Oasis Ladies, who failed to meet up due to logistic reasons. 

The 'Jewels Of Rivers' finished as runners-up at the just concluded Betsy Obaseki Cup in Benin, where they lost to eventual winners Bayelsa Queens in the finals, while Kaduna Queens lost all their matches at the tournament.

SGH Sports Academy and Kaduna Queens will now play in Group B alongside Confluence Queens and Sunshine Queens. 

The third edition of the Flying Officers Cup will Kick-Off from the 10th to the 24th of October at the Area 10 Sports Complex, Abuja.

Lagos SWAN Reacts to Kelechi Iheanacho's Physical Assault On Journalist

Lagos State wing of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, Lagos SWAN has condemned the physical assault meted out to Yinka Oyedele by Kelechi Iheanacho of the Super Eagles. 

The incident happened on Tuesday after the Super Eagles at the Teslim Balogun Stadium when the Brila FM journalist requested an interview from the player, instead, the player resolve to shove and dragging the journalist. 

This incident which was widely reported got the attention of the Lagos SWAN of who frowned at the maltreatment and disrespectful act of the player. 

A statement released and signed by the Chairman of the Lagos SWAN, Debo Oshundun, reads in part " Lagos SWAN frowned at this embarrassing act and disrespect to a journalist" and Oyedele as a professional that doesn't deserve the ill-treatment.  

The body then urge the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, to call the player to order and educate the players to educate on etIquette and relationship with the Journalists. 

" While we urge the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to as a matter of urgency call the player to order, it is also not out a place for the football house further educate the players on etIquette and relationship with the men of the fourth estate of realm and fans alike" read the statement. 

Kelechi Iheanacho was shambolic when the Super Eagles were defeated on Wednesday by lowly rated Central African Republic, by 1-0 at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in the 2022 World Cup qualifier played in Lagos.

Ratels Fc vs Police Ladies Kicks Off 2021 Flying Officer's Cup As Olowokeere Remains Modest

Naija Ratels Head Coach Bankole Olowookeere says his team are not of the opinion that they are better than Ghana Police Ladies ahead of their Flying Officers Cup opening day match.  

The Police Ladies finished as first runner up in the 2021 Ghana Women Premier League, just behind WAFU 'B Champions, Hasaacas Ladies. 

The 'Ratels' who were semi-finalist at the last Flying Officers Cup edition will tackle their Ghanaian counterpart 3pm on Sunday at the Area 10 Sports Complex, Abuja and Olowookeere insists that they will go into the game with alot of respect for their counterpart. 

"Everyday we get prepared for the challenges ahead of us and plan to get ourselves better as a team," Olowookeere said. 

"We respect our opponent, and also know that they are a very good team, but nevertheless, we know our strength and have to make the best out of it. 

"We are trying to stay modest," Naija Ratels are not seen as one of the top teams, so there is less pressure on us. We just go out and work hard in every match and continue building a formidable team for the Premiership season."

The third edition of the Flying Officers Cup will kick-off on Sunday, the 10th of October 2021 at the Area 10 Sports Complex, Abuja.

Flying Officers Cup 2021: Ghana Police Ladies Coach Talks Tough Ahead Opener With Naija Ratels.

Ghana Police Ladies FC Head Coach, Frank Oswald Sam has stated that his team will perform well at the Flying  Officers Cup. 

Speaking with the media just after his team had their first training session on Friday at the FIFA Goal Project, Package B', National Stadium, Abuja. 

The young Gaffer expressed optimism and satisfaction towards having a memorable and succesful Pre-season tournament in Nigeria.

"At the moment we are fully set for the tournament, we have been training so hard and want to achieve something positive here in Nigeria. 

"We are ready to go. As a team, we are coming for the ultimate and using the Flying Officers Cup to prepare for the Ghana Women Premier League, which begins next month. 

"So far the reception here by the host has been topnotch and we are enjoying the atmosphere here in Nigeria. 

"We have learnt so much about Naija Ratels and had the privilege of getting some information about them. They are a good side and we have to be at our best to defeat them." He concluded. 

Naija Ratels FC and Ghana Police Ladies FC will battle it out in the first game of the 2021 Flying Officers Cup on Sunday, the 10th of October at the Area 10 Sports Complex, Abuja.