By Chioma Obinna

Victory Queens have been crowned champions of the fourth Afusat Olabimpe Abiodun Female Gold Cup courtesy of a 4-2 penalty shootout victory over Unification Ladies in Lagos.

The match went to the penalty shoot-out after a dramatic goalless full-time at the Strong Towers Academy Sports Field, Ikorodu.

Medals and cheques were presented to both teams, while Victory Queens was presented with a trophy by former Minister of Works and Housing, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe.

Victory Queens goalkeeper Zainab Kazeem, a student and Goalkeeper of the Lagos State University Football team was adjudged the Most Valuable Player of the competition, getting a prize gift of N100,000 and an opportunity to advance her career in Egypt or Saudi Arabia women’s topflight league.

Her teammate, Ebunoluwa Akinola, won the Highest Goal Scorer award after netting ten goals in the tournament.

Jaiye Damilare, Victory Queens Coach expressed elation at the team’s triumph while commending the organisers of the tournament for the platform given to showcase the girls’ talent, disclosing that the next step for the team was to represent Ikorodu Division at the State League organised by the Lagos State Football Association.

Adeoye Abiodun, Convener of the Competition, said the annual tournament was an opportunity to discover talented female players and grow more grassroots clubs.

“Our projection is seeing players that played this tournament going professional and representing Nigeria at the national team level and ultimately playing at the Olympics and the World Cup. The girl that won the Most Valuable Player last season is now playing in the Egyptian Premier League,” Abiodun said.