Goals from the duo of Akwubo Obianuju and Chinaza Soroibe were all Sunshine Queens needed to defeat Remo Stars Ladies in the matchday six of the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL).
Akwubo Obianuju gave the Akure Landladies the lead in the 36th minute from a 25 metres freekick.
Sunshine Queens’ efforts to increase their lead were unsuccessful as the visitors kept it tight after the first goal.
The first stanza of the encounter ended in favour of the host.
Sunshine Queens’ wasted no time in the restart of the game by increasing the lead through debutant, Chinaza Soroibe in the 47minutes.
The visitors reacted swiftly to the goal by reducing the deficit in the 48 minutes through Isigbo Blessing’s strike.
Sunshine Queens were in charge of the enthrailing encounter from the blast of the game as Bolaji Olamide, Chinaza Soroibe and Akwubo Obianuju combined well in the midfield by fielding the attackers with good passes.
Sunshine Queens goal Keeper, Precious Aaron had a very good game with her beautiful saves, she commanded her defense line professionally to the admiration of spectators at the sporting arena.
Remo Stars Ladies’ Goalkeeper also denied Sunshine Queens on many occasions as she agonizingly saves from Sunshine Queens onslaughts.
In the 62nd minutes Nwamaka Augusta was hacked down by Remo Stars Ladies’ goalkeeper, despite Sunshine Queens’ appeal, the center referee looked the other way.
The host were not weighed down with the Center referee callings, they set their eyes on keeping the three maximum points at stake.
Suliat Ajibade and Taiwo Aganmuyi later replaced Chinaza Soroibe and Taiwo Ajibade in the 75 minutes.
Despite the visitors’ urgency, Sunshine Queens took it calm from defense to the attack, Shola Oduwale, Nwamaka Augusta and Bolaji Olamide combined well to unrest the opposition’s defense .
Remo Stars Ladies’ Innocent Patricia and Sunshine Queens’ Divine Onwuchekwa were red carded for dissent in the 89th minutes as the south west derby ended in favour of the home team.
In a chat with newsmen, Ondo State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Hon Bamidele Ologunloluwa said he was elated as the Akure Landladies defeated their opponent, saying the future is bright for the young Sunshine Queens side.
He charged the girls to continue to put in their best, adding that this is the beginning of good things for the team.
He said, “Sunshine Queens is one of the youngest teams in the league, if we are able to keep them for another season , they will make the state proud.”
Sunshine Queens coach, Oladimeji Abimbola while commending his players for their display, lauded the fans for their solidarity in ensuring that the team triumphed in the game.
Abimbola said the winning will serve as a moral booster for the players ahead of their next game, adding that they will put in more efforts in their next away game to enable them move away from the danger zone.
He said: “We played against an experienced team and matured players, but our players took it calm for them and played according to the game plan, he said.”
*Sunshine Queens Media officer Femi Atolagbe*
