Football
NWPL Super 4: Okon says Lagos is fertile ground for Rivers Angels
Rivers Angels head coach, Edwin Okon, has described Lagos as a fertile ground for his side ahead of the Nigeria Women Premier League (NWPL) most prized annual football showpiece – Super 4 tournament,National Daily learnt.
The football fiesta that crowns the new NWPL champions has been scheduled to hold in Lagos by the leadership of the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) from January 23 – 26, 2019 at the ‘Soccer Temple’ – Agege Stadium.
The combatants are title holders, Nasarawa Amazons, Bayelsa Queens, Sunshine Queens and multiple champions and 2018 Aiteo Cup winners, Rivers Angels.
Okon commended the leadership of the NWFL for their thoughtfulness in choosing a neutral ground like Lagos as the venue for its prime tournament which will give the contestants an even hand to properly express their football artistry.
“Of course, I’m 100% satisfied with the choice of Lagos as the venue for the upcoming Nigeria Women Premier League (NWPL) Super 4 tournament.
“Unarguable, Lagos is neutral to the whole participants and certain to provide an even ground for us to freely express our football talents.
“None of the quartet, Nasarawa Amazons, Bayelsa Queens, Sunshine Queens and Rivers Angels will claim any undue advantage in Lagos where the fans are ever ready to switch their loyalty to any side that meets their football expectations.
“Besides, Lagos, too have proven to be a fertile ground for us in terms of harvesting trophies.
“After we were humbled at the immediate past Super 4 tournament in Benin City we returned strongly to beat the champions, Nasarawa Amazons in the maiden Champions Shield competition hosted at the Agege Stadium in Lagos.
“We are looking forward to a repeat performance this time around when the NWPL Super 4 tournament kicks-off later in the month.
“For us at Rivers Angels any competition is a rare opportunity for us to grab the top prize and this one will not be an exception.
“The NWPL Super 4 tournament is a Cup final, it’s a fight to finish and we will exhibit that character of perennial champions right from the blast of the whistle.
“The opponents are known and tested but our experience and quest to be champions will always see us through the hurdle.
“The players are ready and buoyantly waiting for the commencement date to show off their stuff.
“We are thankful to the NWFL board for making Lagos the battle ground for the upcoming NWPL Super 4 tournament,” said the former Nigerian coach to NWFL Media.
NWPL side, Sunshine Queens are the only addition to the sides that competed in the last edition in Benin City that threw up the Lafia landladies, Nasarawa Amazons as champions.
The football showdown is somehow straight forward, the regular season’s Group A winners will square up against Group B runners-up in the first match of the day while Group B winners will battle the Group A runners-up in the second match of the day.
Winners of the clashes will automatically progress to the final while the losers will square up in the third place match.
Incidentally, the Jewel of Rivers who are Group A runners-up will confront champions and Group B winners, Nasarawa Amazons in an exact repeat of the 2018 NWFL Champions Shield clash.
NWPL Super 4 schedule.
*Wednesday, January 23: Official arrival of teams and pre-match meeting.
*Thursday, January 24:
Match 1: Bayelsa Queens vs Sunshine Queens.
Match 2: Nasarawa Amazons vs Rivers Angels.
*Friday, January 25: Rest Day.
*Saturday, January 26:
Third place match
Final match.