BEVERLY HILLS, April 26, (THEWILL) – In a fitting conclusion to a remarkable competition, the Rivers Angels Football Club reclaimed their title as the Nigeria Women Football League champions on Sunday evening after a 4-nil thrashing of the Sunshine Queens Football Club at the Otunba Dipo Dina International Stadium in Ijebu-Ode.
The champions demonstrated their clear intent for the final by breaking the deadlock inside the first two minutes. Young striker Oghenebrume Ikhekua wrote her name into the scoresheet with that opener, which was her fifth in the 2021 NWFL Premiership Super 6, ensuring she finished as the highest goal scorer.
Vivian Ikechuchwu followed Ikhekua’s lead and doubled the advantage for The “Jewel of Rivers” just before the interval, netting the ball from close range to furnish Edwin Okon’s side with a two-goal cushion as they went into the break on the ascendancy.
The Sunshine Queens could not stop the momentum of the Rivers Angels as they began the second half the same way they ended the first. Three minutes after the hour mark, Alice Ogebe ended the game as a contest with the third goal that was a marvel to experience as she left three Queens’ defenders in her wake before getting her goal.
It was 11 minutes from time on the clock when Rivers Angels’ striker Maryann Ezeanagu added flourish to the final score to complete the routing and confirm a seventh league, record setting title for her club. THEWILL recalls that in the 2019 final, the Rivers Angels triumphed 2-0 over Confluence Queens 2-0 to get the crown but lost it in the 2020 competition.
The win cements the enviable status of Rivers Angels as the undisputed champions of women’s club soccer in Nigeria while qualifying them to represent Nigeria at the maiden WAFU-B zonal event in May, where they will bid to qualify for the CAF Women’s Champions League.
The final day of the NWFL Premiership Super 6 also witnessed other captivating final games such as between FC Robo Queens and Delta Queens who played out a 1-1 draw, while Bayelsa Queens recorded their first victory in the Super 6 against Edo Queens, who they beat by three unreplied goals.
Gracing the occasion with his eminent presence was Sunday Dare, the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports Development. He was in the esteemed company of Amaju Pinnick, the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), and the NFF First Vice President, Seyi Akinwunmi.
Other personalities of note included the Ondo State Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa; the Edo State Deputy Governor, Phillip Shaibu; and other NFF Board Members such as Ahmed Fresh and Sheriff Rabiu Inuwa.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
