Rivers Angels win NWFL Super Six Championship, qualify for CAF Women Champions League

Rivers Angels of Port Harcourt yesterday defeated Sunshine Queens of Akure 4-0 in Ijebu Ode to win the Nigerian Women Football League (NWFL) Super Six Championship.

The victory, which crowned the River State team as champions of the Nigerian Women’s Professional League, also gave the side a ticket to represent the country in the WAFU B zone of the maiden CAF Women Champions League.

The Angels drew their first two games but followed with three consecutive 4-0 wins on their way to the trophy.

The Port Harcourt side overcame their Akure-based counterparts to retain the coveted domestic title in Sunday’s final game in Ijebu Ode

Edwin Okon’s ladies went into yesterday’s game with eight points from four matches in the Round Robin tournament, while Sunshine accrued seven points from the same number of games.

With just a win needed to retain the title, Oghenebrume Ikhekua gave the holders the lead with the opener two minutes before Vivian Ikechuchwu doubled the lead a minute from half-time.

After the restart, Alice Ogebe extended Rivers’ lead to three in the 63rd minute before Maryann Ezeanagu struck 11 minutes from full-time to wrap up their third consecutive four-goal victory.

The league triumph was Rivers Angels’ first back-to-back title and seventh overall following previous successes in 1994, 2010, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2019, with six of them won under Okon’s regime.

In other results, Robo Queens were held to a 1-1 draw by Delta Queens after Chiamaka Okwuchuwu’s effort from the penalty spot three minutes from full-time cancelled out Lawal Taiwo’s first-half opener.

Earlier, Bayelsa Queens condemned Edo Queens to their fifth defeat after a 3-0 victory to end their campaign on a high thanks to Juliet Sunday’s brace along with Zainab Olapade effort.

In the final table, Rivers finished on top with 11 points, followed by Delta and Robo with nine and eight points, respectively, while Bayelsa and Edo finished fifth and sixth with five, and no points.

Having emerged the champions, Rivers become the country’s representatives at the maiden WAFU-B zonal event in May, where they will bid to qualify for the CAF Women’s Champions League.