Hooligans ‘take over’ Nigerian women football

• Sunshine Queens keeper survives attack in Nembe
• Adamawa Queens, Osun Babes’ match abandoned
The spate of attacks sweeping across the Nigerian men’s Professional Football League (NPFL) has found its way into the women’s game, following violence unleashed on Sunshine Queens goalkeeper, Elizabeth Johnson by suspected fans of Bayelsa Queens at the Nembe Stadium in Bayelsa State on Wednesday.

Also on Wednesday, the league match between hosts, Adamawa Queens and visiting Osun Babes ended inconclusive following a dispute.The wave of attacks currently sweeping across the women league is worrisome to many stakeholders, who feel that the current NWPL board led by Aisah Falode is just barking without action.

The Sunshine Queens keeper, Johnson, a former Super Falcons goal tender, narrated her experience at the hands of fans at Nembe stadium on Wednesday in a chat with The Guardian yesterday.

“Our match with Bayelsa Queens was almost ending in a goalless draw when the referee awarded a dying minute penalty to the home team. But soon after the match, which we eventually lost 0-1, some fans ran into the pitch to attack me. They hit me with an object on my face. I went down and became unconscious. When I regained myself, I saw blood running from the top of my nose. The only thing I could recall was that the fans were saying that I prevented Bayelsa Queens from scoring, so they had to deal with me. I am on my way to Akure now with stitches and heavy bandage on my face. I will have to go for a scan in the hospital as soon as we arrive Akure, ” Johnson stated.

Elizabeth Johnson, an ex-Bayelsa Queens keeper, was said to be a target after making a series of saves during the game to frustrate the home side. She saved an 83rd-minute penalty from Bokiri Joy with the tie still goalless.

Bayelsa Queens eventually got a winner in the 90th-minute through Aminat Yakubu, a former Sunshine Queens player.Meanwhile, another scenario at the Atiku Abubakar Stadium in Fufore, Adamawa State saw the clash between Adamawa Queens and visiting Osun Babes ending abruptly as a result of dispute that arose from the second goal credited to the home side.

Supersport.com quoted the chairman of the NWPL, Falode, describing the attack as intolerable, while assuring that adequate measure would be taken to stamp out violence and other untoward act in whatever colouration in the women league.