Former Nigeria Women’s Football League (NWFL) Premiership champions Rivers Angels on Wednesday beat their bitter rivals Bayelsa Queens 1-0 to confirm their passage into the season-ending Super Six with a game to spare, www.aclsports.com reports.
Angels, coached by Whyte Ogbonda went into the Match Day 13 game needing just a point to seal their Super Six qualification spot but knew they faced a side they had not beaten in three years.
In the game decided at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt, hosts Rivers Angels left it late before scoring when two substitutes combined in the 89th minute. Midfielder Patience Otubo firing in off the inside of the post after winger Uduakobong Peter had placed her low cross on a plate.
The win did not only guarantee Rivers Angels qualification for the Super Six, it also ensured that the team go through as winners of the “Group of Death” as they now have an unassailable five points lead at the summit of Group B with just one game to spare.
Bayelsa Queens who are five points behind Rivers Angels in second can also be considered as having qualified for the Super Six due to their healthy goals difference which has left them to needing to lose their last group game by as much as five goals as their only reason for not making it, an improbable condition.
All qualifiers in Group A have now been decided after Confluence Queens and Heartland Queens secured crucial wins on Wednesday. Visiting the Enyimba International Stadium, Aba to face Abia Angels, Confluence Queens ran out 2-0 winners courtesy of first half goals by Mary Mamudu and Chinenye Emenike.
In Owerri, Heartland Queens who are enjoying a different fortune compared to their male counterparts also sealed qualification with a 2-1 win over Naija Ratels in Owerri. Onyinyechi Kalu gave the hosts a dream start inside the opening three minutes before Chinyere Iheoma planted a free kick into the net in the 34th minute. Naija Ratels got their solitary goal after the hour mark through Grace Saliu.
NWFL Premiership Match Day 13 Results
Group A
Heartland Queens 2-1 Naija Ratels
Abia Angels 0-2 Confluence Queens
Royal Queens 3-0 Dannaz Ladies
Nasarawa Amazons 2-1 Adamawa Queens
Group B
Sunshine Queens 1-0 Ekiti Queens
Edo Queens 1-0 Remo Stars Ladies
Rivers Angels 1-0 Bayelsa Queens
Robo Queens 0-0 Delta Queens
Picture credit: Rivers Angels Media
