Femi Atolagbe

Sunshine Queens FC Head Coach, Rafiu Oseni, has reiterated that the 2025 President Federation Cup served as a preparatory competition for his team ahead of the upcoming Championship playoffs.

Oseni assured Sunshine Queens’ supporters that the team will be promoted back to the elite women’s league this season, saying some quality players are already in camp.

He added that they are eligible and will also complement the efforts of the current players during the Championship playoffs.

“We have some players in the team who were not eligible to play for us in this year’s President Federation Cup, but will be available for the Championship,” he stated.

He made this known after his team slipped to a 0-4 defeat against one of the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Super Six hopefuls, Nasarawa Amazons, in the President Federation Cup quarter-final at Akwa City Stadium, Anambra State.

The coach commended his young players for their tenacity against the Lafia City ladies, conceding that his team needed to be fortified with more experienced players.

“They played very well today against a more experienced side, who are currently playing in the league.

“Sometimes in football, your style of play may not reflect in the actual scoreline.

“The good thing about the President Federation Cup is that it afforded us the opportunity to assess our team better.

” All the deficiencies observed here will be worked on immediately we return to our base in Akure.

“Despite the fact that our opponents are still in contention for the NWFL Super Six, these young ladies whom we just assembled about four months ago, held them to a one-goal deficit in the first half.

“They just lost a little concentration a few minutes to the end of the game, and our opponents exploited the opportunity to get the better of us.

“Let me reiterate again that my team is still a work in progress. Before the commencement of the Championship, I can assure everyone that the team will be ready,” he said.