After the nail-biting showdown at the Akure Township Stadium, Sunshine Queens’ coach, Abimbola Oladimeji, hailed his team’s transformed performance against Bayelsa Queens in their season opener.
Oladimeji expressed satisfaction as his squad managed to hold Bayelsa Queens to a 1-1 draw, marking a significant shift from past encounters where they faced defeats, Footballrover reports
The game kicked off with a burst of action as Suliat Ajibade, newly appointed captain for Sunshine Queens, secured the lead with a penalty at the 18th-minute mark.
The first half ended with the hosts ahead by one goal, courtesy of Ajibade’s spot-kick after Angela Michael of Bayelsa Queens conceded the penalty.
Sunshine Queens dominated the pitch, mounting pressure and seeking to widen their lead, but Bayelsa Queens remained resilient, countering their opponent’s advances across all areas of the game.
Despite the reigning champions’ efforts to level the score using long balls, Sunshine Queens’ defense held firm, containing their attempts effectively.
As the second half commenced, Sunshine Queens aimed to amplify their lead. However, it was Bayelsa Queens who struck back in the 62nd minute, with Itimi Mercy scoring the equalizer.
The intense match culminated in a 1-1 deadlock.
Oladimeji Abimbola, the coach of Sunshine Queens, lauded his team’s adherence to tactics in his post-match interview.
He acknowledged the match as a positive start for his side, considering their recent transition from the lower league and the integration of new players.
“This is a new Sunshine Queens, Bayelsa Queens had defeated us many times before but we gave them a shocker today as we were able to hold them to a score draw and we are pleased with it,” he said.
Emphasizing the need for improvement, Abimbola stated their intention to address identified shortcomings and strive for progress in forthcoming matches.
“This is our first match after a season at the lower league, we are just coming together as a team with crop of new players. With time, the team will blend together, we are going back to the drawing board to work on some lapses we discovered in this match,” the coach concluded.
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