By Chinedu Okafor
The FUOYE Dazzlers Queens have secured a bronze medal at the maiden Kwara First Lady Pre-Season Women’s Football Championship, rounding off an impressive outing marked by resilience and consistent performances throughout the competition.
The team from the Federal University Oye-Ekiti demonstrated early intent in the group stage, opening their campaign with a convincing 2–0 victory over Ebira Queens. The win set the tone for what would become a competitive run in the tournament.
They followed up with another dominant display against the University of Ilorin side, recording a 3–0 triumph to strengthen their position in the group standings and boost their qualification chances.
However, FUOYE suffered a narrow setback in their third group match, falling 1–0 to hosts Kwara Queens in a tightly contested encounter that tested their defensive organisation and tactical inter-play.
Unperturbed by the loss, the Dazzlers Queens bounced back in their final group fixture, edging Champion Rise 3–2 in a thrilling encounter that sealed their progression to the knockout stage.
In the quarter-final, FUOYE Queens faced Apex Queens in what proved to be a tense and evenly balanced contest. After playing out a stalemate (1–1) in regulation time, the Dazzlers held their nerve to triumph 4–2 on penalties, booking a place in the semi-finals.
The Queens missed out on a place in the final, after a 4-1 defeat to Kwara Queens , who capitalized on hone advantage and attacking efficiency to advance to the final.
Despite the setback, FUOYE regrouped for the third-place playoff against Wazbak Queens. The encounter ended 1–1 in regulation time, but the Dazzlers once again showed composure in the shootout, securing a 5–4 penalty victory to clinch the bronze medal.
The tournament itself was the maiden edition of the Kwara First Lady Pre-Season Women’s Championship, an initiative associated with Olufolake Abdulrazaq, aimed at promoting women’s participation in football and providing a competitive platform ahead of the new season.
The competition brought together twelve teams from across the country and served as a developmental avenue for emerging female footballers, while also fostering sportsmanship and visibility for women’s football at the grassroots and national levels.
