Two Bayelsa State teams, Bayelsa United and Bayelsa Queens, on Sunday made history in Benin City, the Edo State capital, after lifting this year’s Aiteo Cup in the men and women’s categories respectively.
Bayelsa Queens defeated FC Robo of Lagos 4-2 in the women’s final, while Bayelsa United came out tops 4-3 against Nasarawa United in the penalty shootout after the game ended 2-2 in regulation time.
This will be the first time that two teams from the same state will be winning the two trophies, with Bayelsa United representing the country in the 2021/22 CAF Confederation Cup.
Second-tier side Bayelsa United enjoyed a fairytale run to the final defeating more illustrious NPFL sides Enugu Rangers and Lobi Stars 1-0 and 2-0 respectively on the way. They overcame fellow Nigeria National League campaigners Gateway United 6-5 on penalties in a tense quarter-final clash, before Okardi Inikurogha’s lone goal in the semi-final against another NPFL top side Rivers United fired them to the final.
The former Nigeria Professional Football League champions will be hoping to use the victory as a launch pad for their quest to gain promotion from the Nigeria National League to the NPFL as they are currently third in their group with four matches to the end of the season.
Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, commended the teams for playing beautiful football, noting that the future of the game was bright in the country.
He urged Bayelsa United to be a good ambassador on the continent, and also hailing Nasarawa for putting up a good fight in the tense final tie.
