Bayelsa Queens keeper reveals inspiration

Bayelsa Queens keeper Gabrielle Bawou, said she didn’t want to leave the CAF Women Champions League empty handed after her African Women Nations Cup disappointment with Cameroon.
Gabrielle produced a string of saves to keep Bayelsa in the game in their third place match against Simba Queens. Bayelsa Queens ran home with a 1-0 win and the $200,00 prize money. And it was a thing of joy for the 22-year-old keeper who was making her second visit to Morocco in search of soccer glory.
“Morocco 2022 was my first WAFCON with my senior national team and I was disappointed because my team [Cameroon] was used to arriving at the semifinal or final did make it,” Gabrielle told CAFOnline.com
“That was a great disappointment for me and when I missed the opportunity to be qualified for third place that was why I decided to get the gold medal with Bayelsa Queens in Morocco again.
“I planned for the gold medal in this tournament, but by God’s grace, I got the bronze medal. I really appreciate all the members of my team and Bayelsa, who hosted me and gave me this opportunity.”
Following her third-place exploits, Gabrielle became the only goalkeeper to have won the Woman of the Match award twice but the shotstopper has credited the bronze win to teamwork.
“It’s difficult for goalkeepers to become the woman of the match. I think it’s a result of hard work,” she admitted.
“Let’s understand that our team is part of the best teams in the competition. And if we go home with empty hands like that, that will be really painful. We had work that we had to tackle against Simba.
“Therefore, it was essential for us to give everything possible for us to get the best out of it. The teamwork paid off a lot, because our mind was focused on winning the third place match to celebrate the bronze medal.”