RIVERS ANGELS IN FLYING START, TRASH CAPITAL CITY DOVES 4-0

An inspired Mabel Effiom performance handed Rivers Angels a 4-0 win against new comers, Capital City Doves of Abuja in a Nigeria Women Premier League Week 1 rescheduled game at the Liberation Stadium, Port Harcourt.

Rivers Angels dominated the midfield and attacked early in the game with the inspired Effiom troubling the visitors with her darting runs and crosses from the left flank.

The former Ibom Angels full back, was playing in place of Ngozi Ebere who is on duty with the national team and made sure Ebere’s absence was not felt in the game.

The Port Harcourt based side opened scores on 19 minutes when newly-signed striker from Finland, Ijeoma Obi rammed home a fantastic bicycle kick which left Oluwaseun Sanusi who was in goal for Doves with no chance at all.

Two minutes later, the double champions increased the tally and this time around it was last season NWPL highest goal scorer, Amarachi Ojinma opening her account for the season.

The former Pelican stars forward got a just reward for her efforts after her shot was previously blocked by Sanusi taking advantage of a defensive error by the Abuja side to poke home.

Two soon became three in the 32nd minute as the hosts compounded their visitors’ woes. A perfectly weighed cross from Mercy Amanze found centre back Ihuoma Onyebuchi who teed up Ijeoma Obi to bury it past Sanusi.

Capital City Doves, lacking a cutting edge, outmuscled in the midfield and could not find their way through the Rivers Angels defense on countless occasions.

With ten minutes into the second half, the referee disallowed a goal scored by Grace Henry who pounced on a spilled ball from Sanusi. She was adjudged to be in an offside position.

The home side however continued the game without any protest but so much attention was on the coach of Capital City Doves, Ngozi Ezeh who on three different intervals called on her players to the sidelines after they conceded a goal from Rivers Angels side.

In the 75th minute however, Rivers Angels got icing on their well baked cake with a free kick from 25 yards from Ulunma Jerome who connected the newly introduced Ijeoma Emenike. Emenike did brilliantly to find a relentless Mercy Amanze who headed the ball into the net.

It wrapped up an efficient yet comfortable display for the Champions who were yet to kick a ball this term after they walked over Pelicans Stars in Calabar last weekend.

Rivers Angels Starting lineup

Assistant coach of Rivers Angels, Whyte Ogbonda expressed his delight after the match but admitted they were missing their key players who are on national duty.

“We are missing the players in the national camp if they were here we would have scored up to 10 goals. The standard of the game would have been higher than this but am happy because what we were looking for is just 3 points and at the end of the day they were able to get 3points and 4 goals so am happy they played to instruction and there is room for improvement, said Ogbonda.

Coach of Capital City Dove, Ngozi Ezeh admitted she was not disappointed with the result.

The girls tried their best. We just got into the league and we were not supposed to be in the league but I still believe these girls will still do wonders. I am not disappointed for what my girls played its not easy to face the champions, remember they are the champions of the league, Ezeh said.

“I have to inject new players and encourage the little ones that can meet up the league when next they come for the return leg in Abuja you will hear a different result, Ezeh concluded.

Highest goal scorer of NWPL 2013/2014 season, Amarachi Ojinma who was at Pelican Stars last season, believes she can replicate her scoring form for the Women League champions.

“By the special grace of God I believe I can do it. According to the league board, it is not a straight league but an abridged one. If I can’t get up to what I got(17) with Pelican Stars last season , I hope to get half of the goals I got last season, she said.

Rivers Angels next play Nasarawa Amazons On Saturday, May 16 at the Liberation Stadium Port Harcourt.

Uchenna: Nigerians should expect victory against Mexico as Nikyu is optimistic Flamingoes will make World Cup finals

Flamingoes assistant captain, Uchenna Kanu has urged Nigerians to expect outright victory against Mexico in their final group D game in the on-going FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica early next week.

Kanu is the Nigeria’s highest goal scorer with two goals as Nigeria levelled on 6 points. They will slug it out with their next opponent the Mexicans who tops the group on goal difference at the La Sabana stadium in San Jose.

“I’m expecting victory against Mexico, though I don’t know how the game will turn out, but I’m sure we will win the match,” she assured
Nigerians.

Speaking on her goal and ambition in the underway age grade competition, Kanu admitted delight to privileges to have her goals
lift the country and promised to continue to increase her goal tally.

“I’m very happy I wasn’t expecting the goal but thank God it came – I hope to score more goals. I hope to improve on my crosses and pull outs in subsequent matches.”

Nikyu optimistic Flamingoes will make World Cup finals

Head coach Bala Nikyu has expressed optimism that the Flamingoes will make the finals of the ongoing Fifa Under-17 Women’s World Cup, after coming from behind to defeat South Americans, Colombia 2 -1 and book their place in the last eight on Thursday morning.

Nigeria started on the back foot after Angie Rodriguez scored the game’s opening goal in the 3rd minute through a header before Joy
Bokiri’s sublime free-kick restored balance for the African giants.

Luckily before the hour mark, Uchenna Kanu stole the opportunity from the Colombian’s defense error to net Nigeria’s second goal, while third goal failed to arrive as Ihuoma Onyebuchi’s effort came off the woodwork.

Head coach Nikyu Bala described the Nigeria’s encounter with Colombia as tough; however he commended his players’ response to ensure victory.

“It was a great match. Normally, in tournaments like this, everyone’s aim is simply to survive. And that’s what that game was like, a battle for survival. I must commend the players’ response,” he said during the post match press conference.

Nikyu, restated the Flamingoes’ desire to reaching their first ever final at the U17 Women’s World Cup, while admitting that his players
were overwhelmed by the victory against China.

“We’re hoping to keep going; the competition doesn’t end in the next round. We would like to reach the final, and why not lift the trophy? I don’t think we gave them enough respect at the start – we were still thinking about our win over China, and we paid for it by letting in an early goal. Fortunately we woke up in time and managed to get the victory.”

The Flamingoes have now gained 6 points and levelled with final Group D opponent, Mexico who tops on goal difference.

Nigeria will face Mexico in a battle for the top spot of Group D by 3am on Monday morning, at the 34,453 capacity-size La Sabana stadium in the capital city of Costa Rica, San Jose.

Onyebuchi: Flamingoes’ strikers must deliver against Mexico

Flamingoes’ star Ihuoma Onyebuchi has challenged Nigeria’s strikers to rediscover their scoring boots against table toppers, Mexico, when both sides meet in the final group D clash, in the on-going FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica on Monday morning.

Onyebuchi who won the Most-Valuable Player award against Colombia missed getting her first goal of the tournament and the country’s third of the day, after seeing her effort come off the wood work late on Thursday.

She stated this while reacting to area that needs improvement in the next match, she indicated the attack while appealing to the strikers to start converting their chances.

“I think with my strikers – I will expect them not to miss their opportunities in front of goal again in our next matches, let them
step up their game and do what is right on the field of play,” she demanded.

Earlier, she expressed delight at winning the MVP award though claimed she was not exceptional in the game and promised to give her best to get the country to the finals of the age-grade competition.

“I ‘m really happy winning the award, despite missing my goal opportunity , its not as if I played very well but it’s just the grace
of God that gave me the award. In the next match, I will put in my best and continue to fight more and not relent.”

She however, declared that she and her teammates are ready to make Nigerians proud by winning the last group D clash against Mexico on Monday.

“We will do well and defend our nation very well by winning the final group match and also qualify for the finals,” she concluded.

Costa Rica 2014: Colombia’s free kick goal excites Joy Bokiri

Flamingoes midfielder Joy Bokiri says she is glad and full of joy scoring a goal to recover Nigeria’s hope of playing in the
quarter-final at the on-going FIFA U17 World Cup in Costa Rica.

Bokiri’s sublime effort in the 26th minute’s free kick was the valuable equalizer that the African giants’ needed for revival against
Colombia, before Uchenna Kanu ensured the Flamingoes were through with a 59th minute header on Thursday morning in Alajuela.

“I feel very happy… despite the fact that this was my second game and I score my first goal. I am very happy to equalizer for Nigeria,” she expressed.

Despite being aware of the exploit of Group D leaders, the Nigeria forward backed the Flamingoes to emerge victorious in the top of the table decider against Mexico in San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica.

“I’m looking forward to the next match -I believe we are going to win the next match, despite the fact that the Mexican’s defeated Colombia- I believe football is no man’s game and a game of luck,” she insisted.

The Flamingoes’ train moves to the 34,453-capacity Sabana Stadium where they will meet Mexico by 3am Nigerian time on Monday morning in Costa Rica.