Reigning champions of the Nigeria Women’s Football League (NWFL), Nasarawa Amazons defeated AITEO Cup champions, Rivers Angels to set up a Super 4 final clash with Bayelsa Queens.
Nasarawa Amazons edged Rivers Angels 5-3 on penalties following an entertaining encounter at the Agege Soccer Temple in Lagos after both teams played out a 1-1 draw in regulation time.
Rivers Angels began the game the more aggressive of both sides and putting themselves in the lead early on via a well taken goal by Vivian Ikechukwu. The AITEO Cup champions could have added a second on numerous occasions but the second goal kept eluding them as they hung on to their lead.
The league defending champions however soon found their way back in after a period of sustained pressure in the second half. Ugochi Emenayo’s long ball forward found Adejoke Ejalonibu who nodded it in after the ball was misjudged by White in Rivers Angels goal.
From then on, the game became even more open with both sides creating loads of goal scoring chances but failing to convert. In the end, both teams had to settle for penalties for a winner to emerge.
However, just before the final whistle of regulation time went Rivers Angels introduced goalkeeper Charity John for White but she was unable to make any difference as Nasarawa Amazons put all five of their penalties in the net while Rivers Angels missed their second penalty as Edwin Okon’s girls surrendered to the Christopher Danjuma led side.
Earlier in the day, the first game of the tournament saw 10-man Bayelsa Queen progress to the final of the NWFL Super 4 at the expense of Sunshine Queens.
Charity Reuben’s first half strike was enough to see the Restoration girls through despite a second yellow to Ayomide Anibaba half way through the second half.
Rivers Angels will now play the third place match against Sunshine Queens by 2pm on Sunday afternoon while Nasarawa Amazons get a chance to defend their title against Bayelsa Queens later by 4pm the same day.
