NPWL WEEK 9 :Osun Babes Floor Nasarawa Amazons 1-0

In a hard-fought but enter gaining affair, Kesiena

Ojiyowv 27th minute goal was all that gave Osun

Babes a 1-0 win over table-toppers Nasarawa

Amazons in the week 9 encounter of the Nigeria

Women Premier League.

It was a hotly contested match on a cloudy

thursday evening in Osogbo, as the Omoluabi

Queens strongly held off the Almakura girls to

pick their fifth (5th) win of the season and their

fourth (4th) consecutive victories in successive

games.

Left footed Kesiena Ojiyovw no doubt obliged her

coach Liadi Bashiru to score an important goal

for her side and her second of the season.

Bubbles was sang loud and clear as the Osogbo

City stadium was rocking with fans yelling out for

their darling team to give them victory.

A nervy opening 10 minutes, as expected with a

lot at stake in the game, Nasarawa Amazons had

the first chance via their topscorer Anam Imo ,

who dribbled past one but couldn't go further as

goalkeeper Linda Jiwuaku was able to catch up

with the ball in time.

New signing Anjor Mary had an early effort

blocked and was then denied a Shooting chance

by a last ditch tackle from skipper Maryam

Ibrahim who cleared out for safety.

Minutes later, Ikoyo Rejoice spurned a decent

opportunity from inside the box when she

controlled expertly to give a cross to Edewor

Precious who set out in good pace but was

intercepted by Emenayo Ugochi.

The Omoluabi Queens finally broke the deadlock

in the 27th minute when Kesiena dabbed in from

10 yards after a rebound to beat Nwankwo

Chioma in goal for the Amazons.

The Almakura girls dominated some part of the

first half and hit the woodwork from an Amarachi

Okoronkwo free-kick, but the ball was cleared

away in time for a corner kick.

With 45 minutes on the clock, Nasarawa

Amazons were threatening and looked like

grabbing an equalizer, however Osun Babes held

on and went in at the break 1-0 .

The second half started with the visitors coming

out smoking just like they did in the first half.

They took the game to their host and tried

getting an early equaliser but failed as the duo

of Iloduba Sarah and Esther Elijah were strong

enough to keep their side safe.

The Omoluabi Queens lived out of the gate and

came out with confidence and getting forward

with regularity.

The tides began to run midway through the

second half, as the home side settled into a

sustained spell of possession, only to be caught

out on a 59th minute counter attack when

Nasarawa Amazons skipper Maryam Ibrahim

made a tremendous end pass and nearly

connected with Ucheibe Christy upfront but was

intercepted again by Iloduba Sarah.

The Nasarawa girls came close again in the 73rd

minute, Mathias Josephine almost caught

goalkeeper Linda Jiwaku off her line, but her 35

yards chipped effort caromed off the crossbar.

Deep into extra time, second half, new entrant

Emenike Ijeoma almost levelled for the Almakura

girls, but her thumping header was saved by

Linda Jiwuaku, just seconds before the final

whistle was blown.

Reacting to the victory recorded on thursday

evening over league leaders Nasarawa Amazons,

Chief Coach of Osun Babes FC Liadi Bashiru told

the club's media team that he is optimistic that

his team will carry with the same momentum in

their next game on wednesday against Pelican

Stars.

" I thought it was really a strong performance

from the girls. We need to recreate that with the

same passion and desire, in our next game

against Pelican Stars"

" Its so good we didn't concede today, because I

feel its so important to play without conceding

and overall we played fantastically well and we

will keep working hard to achieve our main aim"

Osun Babes are presently placed second (2nd)

on the log with sixteen (16) points from nine (9)

games and will face Pelican Stars next week

wednesday at the U.J Esuene Stadium, Calabar.