By Iyalla Adaye Port Harcourt
Alice Ogebe, Patience Kalu and Ibinabo Georgewill were all on target as Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) champions, Rivers Angels beat FC Robo Queens of Lagos 3-1 in a match day 11 game of the ongoing Nigeria women basketball league season. Ogebe opened scoring for the Jewels of Rivers in the 19th minute when she snatched a loose pass from midfi eld, drove inside the box before putting it beyond goalkeeper Damilola Amole. In the 34th minute, Robo’s Monday gift came close to drawing level for the host but Tochukwu Oluehi pulled off a brilliant save to preserve Angels’ lead. And just a minute later, Kalu doubled the lead for the Port Harcourt side when she slotted in from a goal mouth scramble to give Edwin Okon’a charges a healthy lead going into the break. Th e hosts however came back fi ring in the second half as they confi ned Angels to their half for about the opening 20 minutes of the half. Tochukwu Oluehi was the heroine of the day as she made a number of saves to deny the FC Robo Queens the opportunity to pull one back when Monday Gift, Rasheedat Ajibade and Chidinma Okeke threatened at diff erent moments. However, Rivers Angels thought they had made the game safe with a 3rd in the 70th minute through substitute Ibinabo Georgewill but was ruled out by the assistant referee for off side. But Ibinabo next attempt was not to be denied in the 85th minute when she scored a screamer off a Chioma Wogu’s pass to increase the tally. Robo Queens captain, Rasheedat Ajibade pulled one back for the hosts in stoppage time but it was just a scant consolation as the Edwin Okon-led side snatched all 3 points heading back home. After the game, Rivers Angels Technical Adviser, Edwin Okon said the win came in handy. “I drew my last match and needed to win this one today and I’m glad we won,” Okon said. “We scored fi ve goals but the referee disallowed two, so the win was that easy. “Th e game wasn’t about who dribbled most but who eventually won, so I’m happy we got the three points,” he added. Th e Jewel of Rivers are still 2nd on the group log but tied on points with 1st placed Bayelsa Queens with 19 points from 10 matches and will now head back home for their next game against Abia Angels on July 19 at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium, Port Harcourt
