The final of the 2016/17 Nigeria Women Premier League (NWPL) Super4 came to an exciting end as Nasarawa Amazons who last won the trophy in 2014 defeated Delta Queens by a lone goal to lift the trophy for the second time. The team from Lafia who were considered outsiders in a competition dominated by teams from the South-South region of the country can pat themselves on the back for a good display.

The final kicked off to an exciting start with both teams showing attacking flair and looking to go ahead early on in the game. But no goal was recorded all thanks to outstanding saves from the goalkeepers of both teams. The tie was keenly contested and if the first half had ended as a barren draw, football fans at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium would have enjoyed the most exciting barren first half of the competition so far.

The Lafia ladies though had other plans and got the decisive goal of the game in the 41st minute through Amarachi Okoronkwo. The defence of Delta Queens was caught napping as the cross in and goalkeeper Akarekor was culpable as she was beaten at her near post from Okoronkwo’s glancing header. The goal was a typical definition of Nasarawa Amazons team display throughout the competition. The half ended on a high for the Lafia ladies as they bosses possession and saw out the half to take their lead into the dressing room.

In the second half the Lafia ladies had chances to put the game to rest but were uncharacteristically wasteful in front of goal.

The Kwale ladies who had so far been found wanting began to get back their groove and started creating chances in the hope of getting the equaliser but couldn’t find a way through the resolute defending of Nasarawa Amazons. On the few occasions they did, goalkeeper Chioma Nwankwo refused to be beaten and got injured in the 64th minute while making a save and after receiving a lengthy treatment to a sprained wrist had to be replaced by Uchenna Chukwu.

At this point the Nasawara bench felt it best to hold on and preserve their lead and made changes in this regard. For Delta Queens it was a case of giving all they had left in order to get back into the game and made attacking changes to help their course but the Lafia ladies held on and repelled all the attacks thrown at them to make sure they won the title for the first time since 2014.