Bayelsa Queens Players, Officials Attacked After Away Win in Uyo

Players and officials of Bayelsa Queens, defending champions of the NWFL Premiership, were attacked by fans of Ibom Angels following their 2–1 away victory in a Matchday 5 encounter in Uyo. Kesiena Ojiyovwi opened the scoring for Bayelsa in the 20th minute before Janet Akekeromowei doubled the lead right before halftime. Helen David pulled one back for Ibom Angels in the 59th minute, but it wasn’t enough to stop the Prosperity Girls from taking the points.

Chaos erupted immediately at full-time, when spectators invaded the pitch and confronted Bayelsa Queens players and staff. Video clips shared online showed fans attacking team members, including goalkeeper Linda Jiwauku, and head coach Whyte Ogbonda was left with an injured lip. Several others sustained various injuries in the melee. League officials have confirmed that the NWFL is reviewing footage and match reports ahead of disciplinary action.

Editorial

In football’s perennial tug-of-war between passion and prudence, few spectacles expose its darker underbelly more vividly than post-match unrest. The assault on Bayelsa Queens’ players and officials in Uyo — following what should have been a celebrated league triumph — is a stark reminder that fervour, when untethered from respect, morphs swiftly into menace.

This was no typical flare-up. Bayelsa Queens, a club with a pedigree underscored by consistent success and an emphatic title last season, had journeyed to Akwa Ibom with the simple ambition shared by every competitor to play and to prevail. Their hard-earned 2–1 victory was a testament to tactical discipline and resilience. Yet, as the final whistle blew, victory’s promise was eclipsed by a torrent of aggression from those ostensibly there to support the sport.

What transpired supporters storming the pitch, players and coaching staff harassed and struck transcends the realm of poor sportsmanship it veers into a domain where safety is compromised and the basic tenets of competition are cast aside. Football thrives on emotion, but it also demands civility. In leagues around the world, from grassroots to elite, governing bodies strive to cultivate environments where players can perform without fearing for their physical well-being. The events in Uyo represent a failure of that principle.

For Bayelsa Queens, the physical scars of this incident will heal the psychological impact may linger longer than any bruise or cut. For the NWFL, this moment is a clarion call rule enforcement and spectator management must be more than post-hoc considerations they must be pillars of league integrity. Fans enrich the game with their passion but passion unchecked breeds a culture where victory is punished and safety is endangered.

In reflecting on this episode, one is reminded that football’s true spirit does not reside solely in the 90 minutes on the pitch. It resides in the shared respect between teams and supporters alike a mutual acknowledgement that, in defeat as in victory, every player and official is deserving of dignity and protection.

Did You Know?

1. Bayelsa Queens were crowned 2024/25 NWFL champions, topping the Super Six playoff with 10 points to secure their sixth league title.
2. The Prosperity Girls received a ₦10 million grand prize for winning the 2024/25 NWFL Premiership Super Six finale.
3. Bayelsa Queens opened their 2025/26 campaign with a dramatic 3–2 win over Edo Queens in the league’s season opener.
4. Ibom Angels received positive recognition early in the season, including a performance reward from the Akwa Ibom State Sports Commissioner after a draw with Naija Ratels.
5. Bayelsa Queens are regarded as one of the top clubs in Nigerian women’s football, known for consistently featuring in NWFL title races and continental qualification.