UNIJOS Get Walkover Win as Opponent Misses NUGA Women’s Opener

The women’s football team of University of Jos (UNIJOS) began their tournament at the 27th ­NIGERIAN UNIVERSITY GAMES ASSOCIATION Games (NUGA) with a walkover victory after their opponents, the Federal University Lokoja (FUL) team, failed to appear for the opening fixture.

The match, scheduled at the Federal College of Forestry, was expected to mark the first outing for both sides. However, despite the arrival of the match officials and the UNIJOS side, the FUL team did not show up even after more than an hour of waiting.

Following the stipulated waiting period as per NUGA regulations, UNIJOS were officially awarded a 3-0 victory earning three points and three goals in the process.

UNIJOS coach Mohammed Dauda confirmed that his side arrived early, fulfilled all protocols and were ready to play. “We arrived earlier than scheduled and waited for hours without seeing our opponents. The referee went through all the formalities and officially declared the match a walkover. We’re now focused on our next match,” he said.

A member of the student-team expressed disappointment at the absence of play, noting “The walkover isn’t bad because we got the points, but we were eager to test our strength and energy on the field. Hopefully, we’ll play in the next match.”

Editorial

When a fixture ends before the whistle is blown, the result is simple but the implications are broader. UNIJOS’s walkover win at the NUGA Games is a point secured but it is also a quiet mirror to questions of commitment, logistics and tournament readiness. The opposing team’s failure to show up might carry its own story for UNIJOS it is a gift, yet one tinged with unfinished business.

For the student-athletes, sport is as much about opportunity as outcome. The cheer of victory matters less than the feel of competition. To win by default is to occupy the record-book but momentarily forgo the moment itself. UNIJOS’s preparations were visible early arrival, readiness, protocol adherence. Their counterpart’s absence sheds light on a possible gap in sport-administration, funding or other unseen barriers.

In university sports, particularly in Nigeria, the tension between scholarship and performance remains palpable. Campus teams often juggle academic schedules, budget constraints and logistical burdens. Yet the Games demand professionalism, consistency and presence. UNIJOS acquitted themselves. Their reward is points but their objective must remain broader: readiness for the field when it comes.

As the tournament unfolds the question will not be who advanced via walkover they will likely move on. The question will be how will UNIJOS build from a start without a contest into matches with full opposition? The walkover is a start the real tests lie ahead.

Did You Know?

1. UNIJOS were awarded a standard 3-0 victory (three points and three goals) when their NUGA opponent failed to show up.
2. The opposing team, Federal University Lokoja (FUL), had registered for the women’s football event but did not appear for the opening match despite being at the pre-match technical meeting.
3. The venue for the match was the Federal College of Forestry, where UNIJOS arrived early and completed check-in procedures before waiting for their opponent.
4. One UNIJOS player expressed frustration: they were eager to play and test themselves, not just secure a walkover.
5. Walkover victories in multi-sport university games are relatively rare but highlight the complex logistics and resource challenges faced by some participating institutions.