Nasarawa Amazons head coach Christopher Danjuma has heaped praise on his squad’s grit and mindset after an impressive late revival saw them beat Bayelsa Queens 2-1. The triumph lifts the Lafia-based outfit to the summit of the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Premiership Super Six standings.
Playing in Port Harcourt, Nasarawa Amazons made it two league wins from two outings, overturning a second-half setback to claim full points against the defending champions. The result underscores how quickly they have settled into the Super Six after opening with a strong display.
Match turning point
- Bayelsa Queens opened the scoring through Chiamaka Ezekwugo in the 51st minute.
- Farikikyen Moses equalised for Nasarawa Amazons in the closing stages.
- Captain Hembafan Ayatsea netted in stoppage time to complete the comeback and seal a 2-1 win.
- The victory moved Nasarawa Amazons to the top of the NWFL Premiership Super Six table.
Bayelsa Queens looked set to build on their advantage when Ezekwugo struck in the 51st minute. However, Nasarawa Amazons refused to drop their intensity, with Moses restoring parity late on before Ayatsea’s strike deep into stoppage time turned the game in their favour.
After the final whistle, Danjuma said belief was the core message he kept repeating to his players once they fell behind. He pointed out that the team maintained the conviction that they could still influence the contest even after conceding.
“We were a goal down and knowing that we still wanted to remain in the race, I kept telling them to believe we could come back. The players showed conviction and character, and eventually we got the result we wanted,” Danjuma said.
The coach also highlighted the importance of the team’s approach during the break and in the second half. In his view, clarity and confidence were central to keeping the momentum alive after Bayelsa Queens took control.
Danjuma further explained that Nasarawa Amazons entered the Super Six with specific targets and a fresh mindset following disappointing runs in earlier campaigns. He stressed that last season should be treated as something left behind, with this term demanding a more focused approach every time they step on the pitch.
“We have set goals for ourselves in this competition and we must keep believing every time we step onto the pitch. Last season is gone. This year comes with a different mentality and another focus,” he added.
Having collected six points from their first two matches after beating Edo Queens on opening day, Danjuma insisted his side will continue to bring the right level of intensity to each fixture. The early points haul has placed Nasarawa Amazons firmly in the title mix.
Next up: Abia Angels
Ahead of their next match against Abia Angels, the coach recalled that the Umuahia club were the only side to take four points from Nasarawa Amazons during the regular season. Danjuma framed the upcoming encounter as an opportunity to address that shortfall.
“Every game in the Super Six requires maximum intensity. Abia Angels were the only team that took four points from us in the regular season and we are here to recover those points,” he said.
Captain and match-winner Ayatsea also shared her thoughts after leading the comeback and providing the decisive finish. The defender said the team never allowed doubt to creep in for long, even while chasing the game for much of the contest.
“I am very happy to captain the team to such an important win. Scoring the winning goal makes it even more special for me,” Ayatsea said. “When we were losing, we continued to work hard and kept pushing. We believed the goals would come and fortunately they did.”
With the win, Nasarawa Amazons remain in pole position, again sitting on six points from two matches. The latest comeback result strengthens their early credentials as the NWFL Premiership crown race gathers pace.
