The race to secure professional opportunities gathered momentum on Thursday as the second day of the inaugural Lagos Queens Cup 2026 delivered another compelling display of emerging talent, with international scouts continuing their close assessment of some of Nigeria’s brightest young female footballers at the Legacy Pitch, Surulere, Lagos.
With representatives from Europe and Nigeria watching from the sidelines, every match carried significance beyond the final score as players competed not only for points but also for the opportunity to impress scouts in attendance and earn pathways into professional football.
The day’s action began with a tightly contested encounter between CATS Ladies and Dannaz Ladies, where both teams produced disciplined defensive performances in a goalless draw.
Despite several promising attacking moments, neither side could find the breakthrough in a game defined by tactical organisation and resilience.
The excitement intensified in the second fixture as tournament hosts Ayisat Yusuf Football Academy (AYFA) recorded an impressive 3-1 victory over Asisat Oshoala Academy.
AYFA made an early statement when Olanrewaju Olamide Kaosarat broke the deadlock in the 14th minute with a composed finish. Asisat Oshoala Academy responded positively, drawing level in the 30th minute through Temilola Kashimawo, whose brilliant solo run and clinical finish highlighted her attacking quality.
The hosts, however, restored their advantage just four minutes later when Esther Moses capitalised on a defensive lapse to make it 2-1 before Racheal Falunyi’s unfortunate own goal in the 55th minute sealed an emphatic victory for AYFA, delighting the home supporters.
In the third fixture, FC Robo Queens continued their impressive campaign by securing a 2-0 win over Dreamstar Ladies to maintain their perfect start to the competition.
Tournament top scorer Esther Onyenezide continued her outstanding form, scoring her fourth goal of the tournament in the 20th minute with an exquisite lob over the goalkeeper. Faith Emmanuel added the second in spectacular fashion shortly after the restart, unleashing a powerful long-range volley in the 49th minute to secure maximum points for the Lagos-based side.
The final game of the day saw Nakamura FA and Victory Queens share the spoils in an entertaining 1-1 draw.
Nakamura celebrated their first goal of the tournament after only four minutes when Mukan Joseph rose highest to head home a well-delivered cross from Ejide Alimi. Victory Queens responded with determination, and Ayomide Taiwo produced a composed finish in the 19th minute, cleverly lifting the ball over the advancing goalkeeper to restore parity.
Beyond the action on the pitch, the Lagos Queens Cup continued to reinforce its growing reputation as one of Nigeria’s leading talent identification platforms for women’s football.
Among the distinguished observers were former Super Falcons defender Faith Ikidi-Michael, Finnish scouts Maiju Ruotsalainen and Marko Saranlinna, alongside James Burgin, all of whom spent the day evaluating players with the potential to progress into elite football environments.
Their presence reflects the tournament’s broader objective of connecting Nigeria’s emerging female footballers with international clubs, scholarship opportunities and professional careers.
The inaugural Lagos Queens Cup is proudly supported by the Lagos State Football Association, 36 Lion Investment, Herizon Sports Initiative, Ayisat Yusuf Football Foundation, Diego Nakamura, Ivory Health Club, and the Africa Football Empowerment Congress, whose collective commitment continues to expand opportunities for the growth and development of women’s football in Nigeria.
With two matchdays now completed, anticipation continues to build ahead of Friday’s fixtures, scheduled between 7:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. at the Legacy Pitch. As the competition enters another decisive stage, every performance could prove crucial for players hoping to attract international attention and take the next step in their football careers.
