The heavy rains couldn’t stop history being made on Sunday evening at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium, Edo state, as Bayelsa United and Bayelsa Queens emerged 2021 champions of the men and women AITEO cup finals.
Bayelsa Queens tackled F.C Robo in the women AITEO cup finals for the prestigious 10 million Naira prize money. Mary Anjor drew the first blood for Bayelsa Queens in the 10th minute and 37th minute taking her tally in the cup competition to 8 goals. F.C Robo rallied round but it wasn’t enough as the match ended 4-2.
In the men’s AITEO Cup final, we witnessed an explosive, intriguing and free flowing football from both sides especially in the first half. Inikurogba Okardi got the first goal in the 19th minute for Bayelsa with a sublime strike, seconds later, Nasarawa United were back in the game after a defensive blunder gifted Chinedu Ohanachom the equaliser in the 20th minute.
Aliyu Abubakar got the 2nd goal for Nasarawa United while Emo James scored for Bayelsa United. The game was evenly balanced all through the 90 and went straight into penalties which Bayelsa won 4 – 3. Bayelsa United defeated top NPFL sides like Rangers International, Lobi Stars and Rivers United before facing Nasarawa United in the finals.
Bayelsa AITEO cup final win meant they will represent Nigeria at the 2021/22 CAF confederations cup tournament.
Bayelsa United became the second team since Dolphins in 2011 to win the highly prestigious Cup while playing in the Nigeria national league. Also, Bayelsa United are the 32nd team to win the cup and the 7th team to win the cup in their first final. Other clubs won the trophy in their first final are Ifeanyiubah, Kaduna United, Ocean Boys, Wikki Tourists, Lagos pan bank and Calabar Xi.