Rivers Angels were on Sunday (April 25) crowned champions of the 2020/2021 Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Premiership Super 6 championship.
The titleholders comprehensively outplayed opponents Sunshine Queens with four unanswered goals on the final day matchup at the Otunba Dipo Dina International Stadium in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun state.
In other final day matches, FC Robo Queens played out a pulsating 1-1 draw with Delta Queens. Lawal Taiwo scored the match opener for the Lagos Landladies in the 11th minute while Chiamaka Okwuchukwu even scores for the Asaba side from the penalty spot in the 87th minute.
Bayelsa Queens recorded their first win in the NWFL Premiership Super 6 with an emphatic 3-0 bashing of the whipping child of the football showpiece, Edo Queens, who lost all five matches at the event.
Rivers Angels’ young forward Oghenebrume Ikhekua scored in the 2nd minute, her fifth in the 2021 NWFL Premiership Super 6.
The ‘Betty Babies’ troubled the Port Harcourt side later on, taking over control of the game, with the trio of Abideen Suliat, Okah Adaobi and Idoko Mercy all finding space to net an equaliser.
However, the ‘Jewel of Rivers’ doubled their lead just before the half time break, as Vivian Ikechukwu find the right angle from a close range to give the Edwin Okon-tutored side a guaranteed lead going into the break.
Alice Ogebe scored a beauty in the 63rd minute, rounding off three Sunshine Queens defenders, before slotting in perfectly and the final goal came in the 79th minute through diminutive forward, Maryann Ezeanagu to round up a classical score line in the final game of the NWFL Premiership Super 6.
The colourful and well attended final ceremony was graced by the Sports Minister, Sunday Dare, NFF president, Amaju Pinnick, NFF first vice president, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi, Ondo state deputy governor, Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Edo state deputy governor, Comrade Phillip Shuaibu, NFF board members, Ahmed Fresh, Sheriff Rabiu Inuwa, Ganiyu Majekodunmi and Nigeria Referee Association president, Tade Azeez and other dignitaries.
The NWFL chairperson, Aisha Falode expressed her satisfaction with the quality of games played at the championship while she remained optimistic that nation’s candidate at the maiden CAF Women Champions League will represent the country well starting with the WAFU qualifiers.
Rivers Angels topped the table with 11 points and won for themselves the automatic ticket to hoist the nation’s flag at the WAFU qualifying stage of the CAF Women Champions League, while the runners-up, Delta Queens ended with nine points and FC Robo Queens followed closely in third position with eight points. Sunshine Queens are fourth, with seven points, while regular season table-toppers, Bayelsa Queens and Edo Queens ended with five and zero points respectively.
Story by Sammy Wejinya
©SPNAfrica News
www.spnafricanews.com
