Players and officials of the 2023/2024 Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Premiership champions, Edo Queens, received a hero’s welcome after clinching their first-ever league title.

The welcoming event took place at Western Boys High School in Benin City, the Edo State capital, on Thursday.

The First Lady of Edo State, Her Excellency Dr. Betsy Obaseki, received the victorious team with pomp and pageantry. The Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, Olympian Yusuf Alli, and other top dignitaries were in attendance to welcome the Queens.

Edo Queens secured their maiden league title after a 1-1 draw with Bayelsa Queens in Yenagoa on Sunday. They finished at the top of the log with 10 points, ahead of Rivers Angels and Bayelsa Queens, both of whom had nine points.

The coach of the team, Moses Aduku, made history by becoming the first coach in recent times to win the league with two different teams, having achieved the same feat with Bayelsa Queens at the end of the 2021/2022 season.

The league title reflects the significant investment in sports by the Edo State government over the years. Last year, the men’s team won the President Federation Cup and represented the country in the CAF Confederation Cup.

The women’s team will now focus on excelling on the continental stage as the fourth Nigerian side to compete in the CAF Women’s Champions League, following Rivers Angels, Bayelsa Queens, and Delta Queens.

Their primary objective will be to win the 2024 CAF Women’s Champions League. To achieve this, they must first qualify for the tournament by winning the WAFU-B Qualifiers, which was won by Ampem Darkoa of Ghana last year with a 1-0 victory over Delta Queens in Benin City.