Nigerian Football
RIVERS ANGELS WIN NIGERIA’S WOMEN’S PREMIER FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Cecilia Nku’s second minute penalty was all Rivers Angels needed to win the 2019 Nigeria Women Premier League title against a very determined Confluence Queens side.
In a well attended final which had the Sports Minister Sunday Dare, Women Affairs Minister, Mrs Pauline Tallen and Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, all in attendance, the final lived up to its expectation as the fans were thrilled with entertaining football from both sides.
Precious Christopher briefly gave Confluence Queens hope in the 14th minute when her penalty hit the woodwork after Amaechi Ojini handled the ball inside the 18yard box.
The victory gave the Edwin Okon’s side their seventh title having won the league last in 2016.
An emotional Edwin Okon said after the game that he knew his side wouldn’t concede and scoring an early goal was important for them.
“We worked hard for this and deserve to win, Confluence Queens gave us a lot of fight, but we remained resolute and defended well. This victory means a lot to me and my players.
“I want to appreciate my players, the management of Rivers Angels and the state Government of Rivers State. It has indeed been a tedious and satisfying season. He concluded.
Meanwhile, Confluence Queens coach, Whyte Ogbonda, whose team failed to beat Rivers Angels in three consecutive finals was unhappy with the result, but promised to keep fighting.
“I am not happy with the result today, I thought we deserve a better result from what we got. We were unlucky to lose a penalty when we indeed needed to have scored. We go back to Lokoja with a heavy heart and definitely we won’t relent from this success we have recorded.
The winner of the 2019 Nigeria Women Premier League, Rivers Angels, went home with a cash prize of N3million and a one week tour to Spain as part of the Laliga/NWFL partnership deal. Confluence Queens that placed second went home with N2 million, while the third place team, Bayelsa Queens got N1million for their efforts.
Remo Stars on Saturday made it two straight wins in the Nigeria Premier League after labouring to a 1-0 defeat of Sunshine Stars of Akure to follow-up their last weekend 2-0 away win over Abia Warriors.
On Saturday, under eight minutes they shot ahead through Shuaibu Ibrahim. That was where the story ended as Sunshine Stars came up strongly and almost stalemated scores.
The win, though narrow, is enough to temporarily take Remo Stars to the top of the log after two games.
They are followed by Rivers United who beat Heartland 3-1. It is the second consecutive 3-1 loss that Heartland are getting in the two-week old season.
The situation could change on Sunday when other matches are played.
On the card are: Akwa United hosting Abia Warriors while Kano Pillars will be away to Bayelsa United.
Katsina United host Bendel Insurance and Niger Tornadoes will be home to Nasarawa United. Shooting Stars will host Plateau United.
BY KUNLE SOLAJA, who was in Arnhem, Netherlands.
Former Nigeria manager, Clemens Westerhof has recommended one of his former players, Samson Siasia as the substantial coach for the Super Eagles.
Siasia was one of his players of the famed golden generation of the Super Eagles.
“I called him last month to greet him for his birthday and also to celebrate with him for the end of his five-year ban”, Westerhof told Sports Village Square at his house in Arnhem in the Netherlands.
According to him, Siasia is just like Keshi and that he has the capacity to turn the Super Eagles around for the better. Westerhof, the author of the famed ‘Golden Generation’ of the Super Eagles made his suggestion shortly after Germany’s Bruce Labbadia turned down the Nigerian job offer.
Westerhof remarked that he was surprised about the choice of Labbadia in the first instance and that the now Mali coach, Tom Saintfiet who is his friend could have been a better choice.
Saintfiet, a Belgian, was speculated among the coaches initially short-listed for the Super Eagles’ job. But Westerhof, before the naming of Austin Eguavoen, another member of his famous 1994 squad, strongly back Siasia for the job.
He remarked that he was in touch with the former striker as well as Austin Okocha whom he met with in London recently.
To Westerhof, Siasia has the same quality like Stephen Keshi to handle the Super Eagles. “He has done it before and I think he can still do it.”
The balls hit the nets 17 times this Sunday as the Nigeria Premier League Season 2024/25 burst into life this Sunday.
The first of the goals was from Plateau United’s Olawale Doyeni who converted a 24th minute penalty kick against Katsina United in an eventual 1-0 home win.
Another star-man of the the day is Enyimba’s Clinton Jephta who has become the season’s first hat-trickster. His three goals in the 65th , 70th and 73rd minutes sank heartland 3-1 in their home match.
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