.In Rescheduled Nigeria Women Premier League Match –
Rivers Angels suffered an away defeat as Uche Kalu”s early goal gave Pelican Stars victory in a rescheduled game of the Nigeria Women Premier League at the Unical Sport Complex Calabar, Cross River State.
Flamingoes forward, Uche Kalu scored 5 minute into the match from a spilled ball by the Rivers Angels goalkeeper, Ibubeleye Whyte from the right corner of the box and sailed into the net.
It was a hard fight between the two South-South teams with Pelican Stars determined to exact revenge having lost the reverse fixture in Port Harcourt 2-0.
Rivers Angels came close so many times but were victims of poor finishing and were unable to take them as the Calabar side held on till the end.
Assistant coach of Rivers Angels, White Ogbonda expressed his disappointment after the game.
“I felt bad, the team felt bad losing the match and bearing in mind that in three days time we have the FA Cup final so we felt bad because this would have given us a very big opportunity, hope, morale to carry into the FA Cup final on Sunday. All the same hope is not lost for the FA Cup but in terms of the League, we still have the opportunity of winning it with one match to go”, said Ogbonda.
Ogbonda added that the loss won’t affect his team when they face Sunshine Queens in the Federation Cup final on Sunday.
Pelican Stars coach, Olawale Olalekan was happy his team played to his instructions.
“We prepared for the match in order to put pressure on Rivers Angels on the League table. So I am very happy with my players about the way they played the match because I told them if they can get a goal in the first 15 minutes of the game, which they did in the 5th minute and it was the only goal of the match. I am happy they played to my instructions”, said Olalekan.
Defeat for Rivers Angels, meanwhile still leaves them on top of the NWPL with 36 points rather than 39 because all matches played by all teams against Adamawa Queens were waived by the League body.
They are 3 points clear of Sunshine Queens and Pelican Stars with a GD of +13, while Sunshine Queens are second on the table with 33 points GD of +7 and Pelican stars are third on the table with 33 points and GD of +5.
The last league games of the season will be played on 22 November.
