The chase for the 2024 NWFL Premiership Golden Boot is reaching fever pitch as Robo Queens’ striker Opeyemi Ajakaye continues her blistering goal scoring run, narrowing the gap on current leader Bolaji Olamide of Remo Stars Ladies. Olamide leads the chart with nine goals, while Ajakaye now sits just one behind after notching her eighth strike of the season on Matchday 11.
Ajakaye has been unstoppable in recent weeks, finding the net six times in her last three outings. Her standout performance came in a dominant hat-trick display against Benue Queens, signalling her intent to push Robo Queens up the table and claim the league’s top scorer title.
The race remains intense, with several other forwards also in close pursuit. Jenat Akekeromowei Nasarawa Amazons, Mary Moses Rivers Angels, Mary Lucky Abia Angels, and Kafayat Bashiru (Remo Stars Ladies) all have seven goals apiece, adding more fuel to the already competitive end-of-season stretch.
With only three matches remaining in the regular season, the Golden Boot race is set to go down to the wire. Matchday 12 resumes on Wednesday, offering yet another platform for Nigeria’s elite women strikers to make their mark.
Editorial
This is what makes football beautiful—individual brilliance fuelling team ambition. As the NWFL Premiership season nears its climax, the battle for the Golden Boot is as intense as ever. And in Opeyemi Ajakaye, we may be witnessing the emergence of a true star.
Her goal-scoring spree isn’t just statistical it’s symbolic. It represents resilience, hunger, and a reminder that consistency at the top level is still alive in Nigerian women’s football. Ajakaye’s recent performances especially that hat-trick against Benue Queens have lifted both her side and the status of the league.
But credit must also go to Bolaji Olamide, who continues to lead the pack with nine goals, and to the chasing group of contenders—all within striking distance. This is more than a two-horse race. It’s a showcase of quality, proof of the depth developing in the NWFL.
As the final three matchdays unfold, the focus won’t just be on goals but on how these players rise to the pressure. Can Ajakaye keep up the tempo? Will Olamide hold her nerve? Could one of the seven-goal contenders pull off a late surge?
Whatever the outcome, the Golden Boot chase is a win for fans, clubs, and the women’s game in Nigeria. The drama isn’t over and we’ll be here for every strike.
Did You Know?
- Opeyemi Ajakaye was part of the Nigerian squad that reached the quarter-finals of the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in India.
- The NWFL Premiership is the top-tier women’s football league in Nigeria and has been a launchpad for many Super Falcons stars.
- Remo Stars Ladies, home to top scorer Bolaji Olamide, only gained promotion to the NWFL Premiership in recent years.
- The Golden Boot winner in the 2022 NWFL season was Gift Monday, who scored 12 goals for Bayelsa Queens.
- Jenat Akekeromowei, one of the current top scorers, is also a university student, balancing academics and professional football.
