Abia Angels and Pelican Stars brightened their chances of remaining in the top flight after they earned their first victories of the 2021 Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Premiership Playoffs on Sunday in games played at the University of Benin Sports Complex, Benin.
Super Falcons and Ibom Angels’ defender Blessing Edoho inadvertently nodded the ball beyond the reach of her goalkeeper for an own goal in the third minute to hand a priceless 1-0 win to Abia Angels who had started the playoffs with a 1-1 draw with Pelican Stars of Calabar.
Pelican Stars produced a barnstorming performance in their 4-2 defeat of DreamStar FC Ladies who abandoned the game in the 85th minute based on the instructions of their head coach, Sheriff Tajudeen who was serving a touchline ban for his unsportsmanlike behaviour in their 2-2 draw with Ibom Angels on Saturday in the first game.
Ogechi Ukwuoma scored the opening goal of the game for Pelican Stars in the sixth minute but Olamide Adugbe battled harder to get the Galacticas’ equaliser in the 19th minute.
Ogechi Ukwuoma notched her second goal of the game to restore Pelican Stars’ lead in the 21st minute while former Adamawa Queens’ player, Oluchi Janice Nwachukwu made it 3-1 for Pelican Stars in the 33rd minute.
Tosin Ogundeko pulled a goal back for DreamStar FC Ladies before Remi Omamuli’s goal in the 82nd minute sealed the game for the Calabar-based side.
Pelican Stars and Abia Angels with four points each occupied the first and second position on the Playoffs table after two games while Ibom Angels and DreamStar FC Ladies with a point each occupied the third and fourth positions after two games.
Monday, May 10, 2021, will be a rest day with the final game of the Playoffs expected to take place on Tuesday, May 11, 2021.
Pelican Stars will need a draw against Ibom Angels in a South-South derby but an emphatic victory for the Akwa Ibom Ladies could swing the result in their favour.
Abia Angels with Ann Agumanu-Chiejine barking instructions from the dugout will also require a point against DreamStar Ladies to stay afloat in the NWFL Premiership.
Two teams will retain their NWFL Premiership spot while the bottom two teams will drop to the NWFL Championship.
