By Aderonke Ojo
Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Nasarawa State, Hon. Kwanta Yakubu, has fulfilled his pledge of One Million Naira (N1,000,000.00) to Nasarawa Amazons, the State’s Womens’ Premier Football Club, after they emerged champions of the first edition of Governor Douye Diri 2025 Women’s Pre-season Football Tournament.
The elated Commissioner who was at the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa, on Sunday, 26th October, 2025, to cheer the Amazons to victory, presented the cash reward to the team shortly after lifting the preseason trophy, following a 6-5 penalty shootout win over Nigeria Women’s Premier League’s defending champions, Yenagoa-based Bayelsa Queens.
stating that Five Hundred Thousand Naira(N500,000.00) is for the players, while the other Five Hundred Thousand Naira(N500,000.00) is for the Technical Officials headed by Coach Christopher Danjuma.
Kwanta who joined the celebration’s train, congratulated the team for winning the preseason trophy and setting the tone for the 2025/26 Nigeria Women’s Premier League Season which is set to commence before the end of this year.
“We are so proud of what you have been able to achieve here today.
“It is not easy to dominate the south-south conservatively. We won the Betsy Obaseki Pre-season tournament in Benin City, Edo State, last term. Today, we have won the Governor Douye Diri Pre-season tournament in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
“Both venues and teams are in the South-south zone of Nigeria, where women’s football reigns supreme.
“His Excellency, Governor Abdullahi Sule, is very proud of what you have done today, as he has been following your activities with keen interest.
“He is eager, alongside the peace-loving people of Nasarawa State, to receive you in Lafia as soon as possible.
“You did your best last football league season, but luck was not on our side, and we missed out on winning both the regular league campaign and the President’s Federation Cup titles. However, with this feat today, we should be able to win, at least, a trophy for our sports-loving Governor and the great people of our State”, Kwanta stated with optimism while speaking to the Ministry’s Public Relations Unit.
Chairperson of Nasarawa Amazons FC, Hajiya Hussaina Suleiman Nagogo, said she was proud of the performance of her ladies, and said the feat is dedicated to Governor Abdullahi Sule whose sustained support and presence continue to inspire the team to success.
Hajiya Hussaina who doubles as Vice Chairperson of the Nigeria Women’s Premier League Board appreciated the Commissioner and his Ministry’s staff members as well as other critical stakeholders for their continuous support and prayers for the team to excel, pledging not to renege in their pursuit to win a silverware before the end of the Governor Abdullahi Sule-led administration to dedicate it to him as an appreciation present for his fatherly support.
With each side converting three of their five penalty kicks, tiebreaker was used to determine the maiden winners after four attempts, as regulation time had ended in a goalless stalemate.
Ten clubs, including, Nasarawa Amazons, Bayelsa Queens, Rivers Angels FC, Delta Queens, Imo Strikers FC, Bayelsa Princesses, FC Robo International, Heartland Queens, Abia Angels, and Edo Queens, participated in the one-week long Pre-season tournament which started on 19th October, 2025.