Fortress Ladies FC of Benin City faced a tough challenge on Monday as they were outclassed by the NWFL Premiership side, Heartland Queens FC of Owerri, in a 3-0 defeat.
The match, part of the Group D fixtures in the Betsy Obaseki Women Football Tournament (BOWFT), was held at Western Boys High School, Ikpoba Hill, Benin City.
Heartland Queens wasted no time in making their presence felt, dominating from the very start. Within seconds of kickoff, the Owerri-based team won a corner kick, and their pressure paid off as an unmarked Chimebere Opara capitalised on a defensive lapse by Fortress Ladies to tap in the first goal in just the second minute.
Fortress Ladies FC, struggling to regain composure, found themselves under pressure again almost immediately. A defensive miscue led to a loose ball, which Chizoba Johnson picked up with ease.
The Heartland Queens striker outsmarted the advancing goalkeeper and placed the ball into an empty net, giving her side a 2-0 lead within minutes.
Despite the early setback, Fortress Ladies gradually found their rhythm. Midfielders Gift Nduka and Favour Enodumwenben created chances, pushing the Owerri defense, while Coach Jimmy Aimuagbonrie substituted Becky Okitikpe for Joy Nwodo in the 37th minute to stabilize the game.
Both teams continued to apply pressure throughout the second half, but controversy struck in the 75th minute when the referee awarded Heartland Queens a third goal.
Fortress Ladies’ goalkeeper appeared to have been fouled while in control of the ball, but the referee allowed play to continue, resulting in a goal that sealed the Owerri team’s 3-0 victory.
After the game, Fortress Ladies’ coach, Jimmy Aimuagbonrie, praised his team’s resilience despite the defeat.
“It was a good match, and I’m happy my girls stuck to the plan despite what happened. We’re testing a new system in this preseason tournament, and playing against a strong team like Heartland Queens is a good test for us,” said Aimuagbonrie.
“The early goals were unfortunate, but I’m pleased with how the girls regained their composure and dominated later on. There’s noticeable improvement from our performance in the President’s Cup in Akure.”
Fortress Ladies FC will aim to bounce back in their next fixture, where they face Benin Republic’s Aigle Royal FC on Tuesday at the University of Benin Sports Complex.
The Betsy Obaseki Women Football Tournament, which features top women’s teams from across Nigeria, is a key preseason event for Fortress Ladies as they prepare for the upcoming NWFL Championship season.
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