The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Rivers Angels

  • Rivers Angels are league champions

    Rivers Angels are league champions

    Cup holders, Rivers Angels have retained the Nigeria Women Football League Super Six after a hard fought 1-0 win over Bayelsa Queens yesterday at the Umuahia Township Stadium.

    The Port Harcourt Ladies scored the curtain raiser which eventually turned out to be the winning goal in the 40th minute through Osinachi Ohale and despite Bayelsa Queens valiant battle they were unable to find an equaliser.

    Meanwhile, Nasarawa Amazons emerged as the third best team after a 2-1 victory over Delta Queens at the Umuahia Township Stadium.

    Two early goals from Super Falcons’ striker, Emueje Oghiangbevha in the fourth and eighth minutes put the Lafia side in the lead but Joy Jedege reduced the arrears in the 88th minute after she converted a spot kick.

    In the Champions of the Pro League clash played between AbiaAngels and Tokas FC of Ogun State, the hosts thumped the visitors 3-0 in a one sided affair decided at the Umuahia Township Stadium.

    Abia Angels led by head coach, Victor Ejiofor scored their goals through Mary Opara, Precious Christopher and Chinenye Emenike to lift the giant trophy.

    Delta Queens head coach, Dan Evumena has praised the standard of the Nigeria Women Football League Super Six and has also thumbed up the performance of his players despite placing fourth at the end of the competition.

    Evumena, the former Super Falcons’ head coach told SportingLife that all the matches were very competitive and that his team should not be measured by their performance during the Super Six because they came with very young players and only few experienced ones to complement them.

  • Wike renews promise to Dolphins, Sharks, Rivers Angels

    Wike renews promise to Dolphins, Sharks, Rivers Angels

    Rivers State governor, Barrister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has renewed his vow to pay the debts owed by the state to players of Dolphins, Sharks and Rivers Angels this week.

    Last Wednesday, the governor sent a message through the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Sports that all teams will be paid todayand on Saturday, he confirmed that monies had been released to make payment possible.

    Speaking live on a privately-owned radio station in Port Harcourt on Saturday morning, Wike said he was aware the players of the clubs had not been paid for eight months.

    “How do they perform well if they have not been paid for so long? We looked at it that these young men and women cannot continue suffering this way and it was based on this that we said we must pay them,” Wike said.

    The governor added that his predecessor refused to pay, saying the clubs must generate their own funds but he didn’t think the time was right for that.

    “The former governor said they should pay themselves, but how can they do that? We own the clubs for now, and we sponsor them so have to pay them their salaries.

    “When the Permanent Secretary told me they haven’t been paid for eight months, I did everything I could to see that we get funds to pay them,” the governor said.

  • Rivers Angels Asisat Oshoala prepared for AWC

    Rivers Angels Asisat Oshoala prepared for AWC

    RIVERSAngels new poster girl Asisat Oshoala is one of the 30 players that have been summoned to the national team camp ahead of the African Women Championship(AWC) which begins in Namibia next month.

    Few weeks ago, the offensive all-rounder was in the spotlight after her seven goals contributed to the Falconets qualification for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup finals.

    And the Golden Ball and Golden Shoe winner of the competition held in Canada has borrowed the motto from the Girls Guide, saying she is prepared for the start of camping despite recently appearing for the Nigeria Under 20s.

    “I went to the African Women Championship two years ago, and I played a game against Ivory Coast. I have been part of the senior national team in the past, I played the qualifiers against Rwanda.

    “Yes, I am prepared to join the camp. It is my work and I am prepared for the competition,”Asisat Oshoala told allnigeriasoccer.com.

    The 19 – year – old is studying offers from clubs overseas, and she has dropped a big hint that she will switch clubs after the AWC ends.

    “There are teams abroad that want me but I want to remain with Rivers Angels until the end of the season. After the AWC, I will sit down with my agent and consider the options available, ” she concluded.

    From the 30 players that were told to report at Serob Hotel Abuja on Sunday, 14 are from Rivers Angels including Gloria Ofoegbu and Uchechi Sunday.

    List Of invited players

    GOALKEEPERS: Ibubeleye Whyte (Rivers Angels),Precious Dede (Ibom Queens),Charity John (Rivers Angels), Juliet Obi (State House FC),Ohieriaku Christy (Oshogbo Queens)

    DEFENDERS:  Blessing Edoho (Pelican Stars),Ebere Ngozi (Rivers Angels),Mariam Ibrahim (Nasarawa Amazons), Josephine Chukwunonye (Rivers Angels), Onome Ebi (FK Minsk,Belarus), Osinachi Ohale (Houston Dash,USA), Ugochi Njoku (Rivers Angels),Gloria Ofoegbu (Rivers Angels),Sarah Nnodim (Delta Queens)

    MIDFIELDERS: Ngozi Okobi (Delta Queens), Onyinyechi Ohadugha (Rivers Angels), Chiwendu Ihezuo (Pelican Stars), Stella Mbachu (Rivers Angels), Asisat Oshoala (Rivers Angels),Cecilia Nku (Rivers Angels), Evelyn Nwabuoku (Rivers Angels), Halimat Ayinde (Delta Queens), Loveth Ayila (Rivers Angels), Gloria Iroka (Rivers Angels), Rosemary Okezie (Nasarawa Amazon).

    ATTACKERS: Desire Oparanozie (En Avent De Guingamp,France) , Francisca Ordega (Pitea IFF,Sweden),  Esther Sunday (FK Minsk,Belarus), Uchechi Sunday (Rivers Angels), Pepetua Nkwocha (Sunana SK,Sweden)

  • CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS’ TIE Rivers Angels step up build up

    CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS’ TIE Rivers Angels step up build up

    Rivers Angels of Port Harcourt have begun intensive preparation ahead of their champion of champions’ contest against Nasarawa Amazons slated for February 1st, 2014.

    Coached by the acting head coach of the Super Falcons, Edwin Okon, the club is not leaving any stone unturned in the quest to emerge as the best in the Women’s League for last season.

    The Port Harcourt babes led in Group B while Nasarawa Amazons emerged tops from Group A. Both will clash on February 1st at a yet to be decided venue.

    Speaking with SportingLife on the readiness of his wards, coach Okon said that he is training his players to go all out when they face Nasarawa Amazons again after their last meeting in the final of the 2013 Federation Cup which Rivers Angels won 2-0 at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.

    “We are playing against Nasarawa Amazons on February 1st and we are training to be in top shape for that match. It is a very important match for us because it will determine the best in the league for last season. We are not taking it lightly at all,” he told SportingLife.

  • Japan friendly: Rivers Angels dominate Falcons list

    Japan friendly: Rivers Angels dominate Falcons list

    Ten Players from Rivers Angels will make up the 21-man Super Falcons squad that will be facing Japan in a couple of friendly matches to be played next week.

    Forty players were invited by interim coach Edwin Okon for preparations in late August in Abuja but only 35 honoured the call that has been reduced to 21.

    The domination is an indication of the club’s strength in the domestic women league.

    In order not to miss their flight scheduled for today, players and officials have been in Lagos since Monday.

    Last Sunday, Angels defeated Nasarawa Amazons 3-0 in the final of the women’s federations Cup to retain the trophy. Okon, who guided Nigeria’s U-20 women team to the fourth position at last year’s FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, is also the club’s chief coach.

    The players who will make it to Japan include;

    Goalkeepers: Ibebuleye Whyte (Rivers Angels), Charity John (Rivers Angels) and Sangonuga Ibijoke (Nasarawa Amazons)

    Defenders: Ngozi Ebere (Rivers Angels), Blessing Edoho (Pelican Stars), Gladys Abasi (Ibom Queens), Josephine Chukwunonye (Rivers Angels), Gloria Ofoegbu (Rivers Angels), Rebecca Kalu (Rivers Angels), Osinachi Ohale (Delta Queens), Maria Nwoko (Delta Queens)

    Midfielders: Asisat Oshoala (Rivers Angels), Evelyn Nwabuoku (Rivers Angels), Onyinyechi Ohadugha (Rivers Angels), Ngozi Okobi (Delta Queens), Esther Sunday (Pelican Stars), Halimat Ayinde (Delta Queens)

    Strikers: Remilekun Omamuli (Confluence Queens), Yetunde Aluko (Sunshine Queens), Uchechi Sunday (Rivers Angels), Tawa Ishola (Ibom Angels)

    The Falcons are expected back in the country next week.

  • Rivers Angels cruise into final

    WOMEN’S FEDERATION CUP

    • Beat Pelican 2-1 • To face Nasarrawa Amazons

    Rivers Angels are a step away from retaining the Women’s Federation Cup trophy after yesterday’s defeat of rivals, Pelican Stars 2-0 in one of the semi-final matches played in Abuja.

    Veteran, Stella Mbachu got the winning goal from the penalty spot after Evelyn Nwabuiko had put the defending champions in the lead.

    Angels coached by new Super Falcons caretaker coach, Edwin Okon dominated the entire game.

    Their firepower could not be contained by Pelican who failed to replicate the quarter final performance against Delta Queens.

    Angels will face Nasarrawa Amazons who edged out Bayelsa Queens by a lone goal, in the final, that will be played on September 15 at the Teslim Balogun Stadium. The goal was scored in the 88th minute.

    Interestingly, yesterday’s match served as an opportunity for Okon and his Pelican colleague Edat Agan to prove why they were frontrunners for the Super Falcons coaching job.

    They were interviewed by the NFF technical committee on Tuesday, ahead of next month’s international friendly against Japan.