The South-South derby delivered pure drama at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium as Bayelsa Queens breathed new life into their title defense with a thrilling 2-1 victory over local rivals Rivers Angels.
After picking up just one point from their opening two games, the Yenagoa-based Prosperity Girls entered the Matchday 3 fixture with their backs against the wall.
Chiamaka Ezekwugo opened the scoring with a 29th-minute header, and though Abasiofon Uwah equalised from the penalty spot for Rivers Angels in the 58th minute, Doshima Taarnum struck just five minutes later to seal a priceless victory.
Tactical Masterclass Exploits Rivers Angels Defence
Bayelsa Queens coach Whyte Ogbonda pulled no punches when explaining how his team targeted their opponent’s weaknesses in the second half to secure the maximum points.
“Well, ball position doesn’t score goals. Our own target was that we wanted to score more in as much as we are trying to defend. And since I discovered that the central defence of Rivers Angels are too lazy and dull, I have to keep more attackers there.
I asked my players to give them a long ball to be able to counter the defence of Rivers Angels. And I think that is what led us to getting those two goals that we are able to get.”
Defending Champions Eye Super Six Comeback
Having previously managed in Port Harcourt, Ogbonda felt right at home steering his team through a high-stakes encounter that could have ended their championship dreams.
“I know the house, and I know the style of play they normally play, and knowing too that this match, we needed this match because any person that loses this match today is out of contention for the Super 6.
So, I tried to make sure that they go all out to make sure we get the three points at stake because, as defending champions, we won’t just come here and lose woefully. So, by the end of the day, they were able to get us three points.
Like I rightly said before, you know, this is my community, this is my area. The land is going to favour me, especially when it comes to the Rivers Angels, and that is exactly what happened today.”
With two matches left and his team sitting on four points, the coach firmly believes the race for the NWFL crown is wide open.
“Definitely, we will still have hope because we expect that more upset will happen. Just like what happened with the Rivers Angels and Abia Angels because everybody was looking down on Abia as if they are not part of the Super 6.
But by the end of the day, you saw what happened that much. So, hopefully, I’m sure that some upset is going to happen. And when those upsets happen, it’s going to favour us.
So, we are hopeful that we are still in contention for the trophy because we still have two matches to go, and with those two matches, we are able to take those two matches and end up with ten points.
We believe that ten points can be able to give us the trophy, and that is what we are praying for.”