Ndidi’s Goal Denies Rivers Angels First Away Win

Female football league in action

Rivers Angels hope of picking her first away victory took another blow as a late Okeke Ndidi free-kick saw Heartland Queens of Owerri snatch a point in a rescheduled Week 1 game of the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) on Saturday.

After a goalless first half, Technical Adviser of the Port Harcourt side, Edwin Okon, made some tactical changes that saw Cynthia Aku take the place of Chinwendu Orji as Mercy Amanze also came on for Amarachi Ojinma in the 59th and 64th minute respectively.

Three minutes later, Patience Kalu put the visitors ahead in the 67th minute from a superb shot at close range off a Mercy Amanze cross.

But the Jewel of Rivers were unable to add a second as Aku and Ibinabo Georgewill came close on two occasions but had their attempts come off the post.

Just when Rivers Angels thought they had the 3 points in their bags, Okeke lashed her well-struck free-kick in the 95th minute following a foul by Gladys Akpa on a Heartland player to salvage a point for her team.

Technical Adviser of Heartland Queens, Moses Aduku,  said he was happy with the result after the game.

“Honestly am happy for not losing this game and I thank my players for putting up a good fight,” Aduku stated.

“They carried out every instruction given to them to the end.

“It’s just unfortunate Rivers Angels scored first because they took their chances." he added.

On his part, Rivers Angels Technical Adviser, Edwin Okon had reasons to question the set-piece awarded to the hosts.

“The game was a good one but the set-piece that resulted in the goal was never a foul,” said Okon.

“The match ought to have ended before now but all the same it was good.

Okon, however, did not fail to voice out his displeasure with the attitudes of the home fans and the venue of the match.

“This campus is not safe, imagine an area boy threatening a Match Commissioner,” said Okon.

“We should at least have up to 20 policemen on the ground but we saw just a few here,” he added.

With Saturday’s draw, Rivers Angels are still 2nd in Group A with 9 points, a point behind Bayelsa Queens whom they will be facing on May 10 in Port Harcourt.