The girls’ team at Sharp Strikers FC in Ikotun, Lagos, is taking ambitious steps in its first campaign in the Ikeja Division Female League, aiming to clinch the title on debut.
Coach Lookman Adeosun Bamidele, who founded the club’s male team in 2010, expressed confidence that his female squad can mirror the success of the boys. He officially launched the female squad last year at Olakunle Primary School, Abaranje Road, and is convinced that the players already have the talent to compete at the top level.
Though Sharp Strikers Queens suffered a loss in their first away match in Agege, Bamidele is optimistic about the team’s home fixture in Akesan, Alimosho Local Government on November 16th. “It’s true that we lost our first match, but it was away. Our second match is at home, and I believe we will win it. It’s a big competition, but I’m sure we can still win it, by God’s grace,” he said.
The coach’s vision is clear: to build a team that not only competes but also represents a beacon of youth development in female football within Lagos.
Editorial
In Lagos’ bustling suburbs, where football often begins in open spaces and school yards, ambition manifests early. Sharp Strikers Queens exemplify this truth: a fledgling team, barely a year old, yet daring to envision glory.
Coach Lookman Adeosun Bamidele’s approach mirrors the arc of Nigerian football itself a careful cultivation of raw talent into disciplined, competitive squads. His belief in the girls is not sentimental it is strategic. The loss in Agege is less a setback than a calibration, a lesson in resilience and the unforgiving rhythm of league football.
The significance of these early steps extends beyond wins and losses. For young Nigerian female players, participation in structured competitions like the Ikeja Division League provides not just exposure but a framework for aspiration. Every drill, every match, and every goal is a building block in both personal growth and the broader development of women’s football in Lagos.
Sharp Strikers Queens are not merely chasing a trophy—they are laying the groundwork for a legacy, one that may inspire the next generation of female footballers across Nigeria.
Did You Know?
- Sharp Strikers FC originally launched a male team in 2010 before expanding to a female squad last year.
- The Ikeja Division Female League is played on a home-and-away basis, offering teams experience in different competitive environments.
- The female squad trains at Olakunle Primary School, providing young players access to structured football sessions in a school setting.
- Coach Lookman Adeosun Bamidele discovered his passion for youth development by working with boys before transferring those skills to the girls’ team.
- The team’s home ground is located in the Akesan area of Alimosho Local Government, a community known for producing local football talent.
