The 2019 Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Promotion playoff due to commence on Thursday has been postponed till Sunday after the sorrowful death of two players on Tuesday.
Aniebet Ekong and Glory Saturday; two players of Police Machine Ladies FC of Uyo – one of the participating teams – were crushed to death by a hit-and-run vehicle on Tuesday night in the Akwa-Ibom state capital.
The death of the duo has thrown Nigerian football into mourning and in sympathising with their club, organisers of the league have shifted the playoff by a further seventy-two hours in order to allow for a griefing time by their teammates.
The teams’ arrival in Lokoja, Kogi State will now be on Saturday with the tournament getting underway at the Confluence Stadium on Sunday.
”It is with great sadness that we receive the news of the death of two young players of Pro-League side Police Machine FC.
“We are all devastated at this tragic passing of Saturday Glory and Aniebet Ekong,” NWFL’s chairperson Aisha Falode said in a statement.
”The thoughts of everyone at the NWFL are with the families of the deceased, their friends, teammates, the management and everyone connected to the club at this difficult period.”
Aside the duo of Ekong and Saturday; another player of the club Monica Anthony, is still receiving treatment after the fatal incident.
Police Machine Ladies will be joined by Pelican Stars of Calabar, Olori Babes of Warri and Moje Queens of Erin-Ile with two places up for grabs in the next Nigeria Women Premier League (NWPL) season.
