Sunshine Queens secured a 1-0 victory over previously unbeaten Nasarawa Amazons in the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) on Wednesday, though head coach Kayode Olujuhungbe admitted his team’s performance fell short of their usual confidence.
The match, held at the Ondo State Sports Complex in Akure, saw the Owena Whales break Nasarawa Amazons’ flawless start to the 2025-26 NWFL season. The solitary goal, scored in the first half, was enough to hand the Amazons their first defeat and propel Sunshine Queens up the league table.
Despite the result, Coach Olujuhungbe’s post-match analysis was tempered. He acknowledged a deliberate, cautious strategy that prioritized defensive solidity over attacking ambition. “We didn’t really go all out,” he stated in remarks to The Hope newspaper. “We played from the wings but the midfielders did not support the attack too much because we knew they are very dangerous.”
The coach described the team’s approach as one of calculated restraint, aiming to nullify the threat of a Nasarawa side that had impressed in their opening fixtures. “Our watchword for this game was caution,” Olujuhungbe added. He indicated the experience would inform future tactics, suggesting a shift away from such a defensive mindset in upcoming home games.
The win marks a significant result for Sunshine Queens, demonstrating their ability to compete with and overcome the league’s early frontrunners. For Nasarawa Amazons, the defeat provides their first real test of the season’s resilience after a promising start.
With the NWFL campaign now in its early stages, the result adds intrigue to the title race. Sunshine Queens will look to build on this victory with more assertive performances, while Nasarawa Amazons face the immediate challenge of rebounding in their next fixture. Both teams’ subsequent matches will be closely watched as the league’s hierarchy begins to take shape following this first major upset of the season.
