Team Delta‘s female football team clinched gold at the 22nd National Sports Festival, Gateway Games 2024, following a 7-6 penalty shootout win over Invited Junior Athletes after a goalless draw in regulation time.
Having lost 1–0 to the same opponents during the group stage, Team Delta came into the final with determination and a point to prove. Their tactical discipline and defensive solidity were evident throughout the match, setting the stage for a dramatic shootout.
Read Also: Gateway Games 2024: Ogun bags third table tennis gold with mixed doubles win
The hero of the day was goalkeeper Oparanyanwu Favour, who saved two crucial penalties to secure a hard-fought victory for Delta. Her heroics ensured redemption and capped a memorable campaign for the team.
Speaking after the match, Favour dedicated the gold medal to the Chairman of the Delta State Sports Commission and her teammates, emphasising the importance of unity and belief.
“This medal is for our Chairman, the entire Team Delta family, and everyone who believed in us,” she said. “It was not easy, especially with the kind of unsupportive audience we faced, but we stayed focused and got the result.”
Chairman of the Delta State Sports Commission, Hon. Onoriode Oborevwori, was full of praise for the team, describing the final as the most thrilling moment of the entire festival.
“I had to leave the VIP section and join the crowd because it felt like a continental cup final,”
Oborevwori said. “The tension and anxiety were overwhelming, especially knowing that the entire stadium was rooting for our opponents. But our girls stood strong, held their nerves, and delivered. I’m extremely proud of them.”
