Contrary to the decision reached during the press conference, the top 2 teams in the female category of the Sigma Sports Festival will qualify to play in a final to determine the competition champions at the end of the league format. It was later reported that team owners, coaches, and captains of all the teams agreed to change to just using the league format, that is, whoever is on top at the end of the league is automatically crowned champion. One of the reasons for this was the time lost during the pre-NUGA Games break that had to be taken because several players participated in the pre-NUGA Games.
So, on Tuesday, the 30th day of September, the final games of the inaugural edition of the female category were played. Firstly, Phoenix FC was to go up against Spark Kickers FC, but the game was deemed a walkover for Phoenix FC due to Spark Kickers’ inability to compete with the number of players available. Phoenix FC walked away with a three-nil victory, bringing their final tally on the table to four points.
Next up was the most anticipated fixture of the tournament, first-placed Joga Bonito FC against second-placed SFA Femini. The league already belonged to Joga Bonito before the game because it was mathematically impossible for SFA Femini to leapfrog the league leaders. Still, it was bound to be a beautiful game of football, as the top two teams in the league by all metrics were about to have a face-off.
The referee signalled a kickoff at the SUB Pitch at about 3:50 PM. The game quickly settled into a one-sided affair, with SFA Femini asking all the questions; eventually, their pressure paid off, grabbing one goal in the first half through Favour.
In the second half, SFA Femini only increased the pressure, missing multiple 1v1 chances and striking the crossbar on two occasions. Joga Bonito FC did not look like the same team we had seen all competition. Before the final whistle at about 4:50 PM, Favour and Feyi added to the goals, leaving the scoreline at three goals to nil at full time.
Supporters of Joga Bonito commented that the reason they lost was that their star girl, Sarah, didn’t play, and they didn’t have anything to play for anymore, seeing as they already won the league. These excuses didn’t, however, take the sting off the defeat; they, however, had the last laugh as they went home with the trophy. On speaking to both coaches, Aboy, of SFA Femini, said, “I believe my team was the best in the league, because we were undefeated all through, but things did not just work out how we planned it.” Biscuit of Joga Bonito, on the other hand, said, “Everyone, including myself, looked forward to the game. Even Sarah was willing to leave an important meeting just to come play the game, but then, we were already champions from matchday 3; the toll of the pre-NUGA games and other sigma games had taken its toll on my players. We just came to enjoy football; the girls did not like the result, but we lifted the trophy at the end of the day, and that’s what matters most.”
For personal awards, they were awarded as;
TOP SCORER: Sarah (Joga Bonito FC) with 8 goals
GOLDEN GLOVE: Divine (SFA Femini) with only 1 goal conceded
COACH OF THE TOURNAMENT: Raji Biscuits (Joga Bonito FC)
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Sarah (Joga Bonito FC) with 10G/A