The feeling of being champions is mind-blowing – Nigeria women’s football title winner

Nigeria women’s player revels in title victory

JOHANNESBURG, April 27 (ANA) – Following their title winning campaign in the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Premiership, Rivers Angels striker Vivian Ikechukwu on Monday praised the determination of her teammates.

Angels of Port Harcourt thrashed Sunshine Queens of Akure 4-0 to clinch the title.

“The feeling of being champions is mind-blowing, a lot was at stake and I’m happy that we were able to write our names in gold,” Rivers Angels’ striker Vivian Ikechukwu said.

“We all understood what was at stake and we were able to motivate ourselves, we never gave up.”

The Port-Harcourt-based side won the last edition of the NWFL Premiership in 2019 – the tournament was cancelled in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Angels again finished on top of the of the NWFL Super Six Tournament which was put in place after the regular season was cut short.

Sunday’s final round of matches at the Dipo Dina International Stadium in Ijebu Ode – South-Western Nigeria – was going to be tough contests, with both Rivers Angels and Delta Queens tied on eight points after four rounds of matches.

Third-placed FC Robo Queens and fourth Sunshine Queens both had seven points ahead of their respective duels against Delta Queens and Rivers Angels to determine the ultimate winner.

But it was Rivers Angels, managed by former women’s national teach coach Edwin Okon, that showed their resilience against Sunshine Queens, as Oghenebrume Ikhekua scored as early as the second minute.

Striker Vivian Ikechukwu added Rivers’ second towards the end of the first half, while Alice Ogebe and Maryann Ezenagu scored after the break to propel Rivers Angels to 11 points from five matches.

Meanwhile, in the other key tie, FC Robo Queens were held to a 1-1 draw by Delta Queens.

FC Robo Queens took the lead in the 11th minute, but were undone after Delta Queens levelled with a late goal from the penalty spot. Delta Queens finished second with nine points, while Robo Queens came third on eight points.

Favourites Bayelsa Queens eventually finished fifth after a 3-0 win over Edo Queens in what was their only victory in the round-robin NWFL Super Six Tournament.

Rivers Angels, winners in 1994, 2010, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2019, will now hoist Nigeria’s flag at the forthcoming Wafu (West African Football Union) Zone B qualifying tournament to determine the region’s two representatives for the first edition of the African Women’s Champions League. – African News Agency (ANA), Editing by Michael Sherman