Remo Ladies of Ikenne may not find things easy against Rivers Angels of Port Harcourt in their last match of this year’s Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Super-6, as The Garden City side are motivated to upset the apple cart by defeating the hosts on Saturday.
Sports247 gathered that this warning shot was fired by Rivers Angels’ coach, Tosan Blankson, who declared that, although his team can no longer win the female league title, they want to go out on a high with a bold statement.
While Blankson’s side head into the game with only four points to their name, Remo Ladies are level on seven points each with Bayelsa Queens of Yenagoa and Edo Queens of Benin City, but Nasarawa Amazons of Lafia are top of the log on eight points.
Blankson admitted that his side are out of the race, but disclosed that they are psychologically and financially motivated to win their last match, following showers of consolation they got for beating Naija Ratels of FCT on Thursday.
Blankson retorted, “At least we made a statement with this victory. Although the result is not effective for us, it’s still a positive one. But you may also call it negative because, though it’s good that we won, we can’t use the three points to do anything.”
He then threw up insinuations about poor treatment of the ream by the government of Rivers State, which is currently under emergency rule that apparently caused lack of administrative support for the club at the NWFL’s Super-6 venue in Ikenne, Ogun State.
Blankson lamented, “The lesson is that, whenever a team is going out for a competition, they should try and do everything possible for that team to do well in the competition … not for you to get to the competition, and your team is stranded.
“We are stranded here. But, thank God for the GM we have. A vibrant GM that makes a difference. Now, we are the beautiful bride of the Super-6.
“While the majority of people want us to succeed, only a few want us to fail. That’s because our next match will determine the champion of this year’s Super-6.”
He concluded with a stern pledge that Rivers Angels will not bow to Remo Ladies on Saturday, considering that the girls were paid for their victory over Naija Ratels and they will aim to get more money by defeating the hosts as well in the competition’s last match.
“We came here to play. So, we will make a statement that, though we didn’t start well, at least we ended well. I don’t know what it means to create an upset; all I know is that we want to win our last match. Let’s just wait until the final whistle.
“All the same, our motivation for this game is different. At least, there’s a little money now in each of the players’ bank accounts. That’s a reward for them, because they tried their best in this competition,” Blankson ended on a note of appreciation to his players.
Sports247 reports further that all three final round matches on Saturday will have telling repercussions in determining which club wins the 2025 NWFL Super-6, as three of the contending teams are level on seven points each.
While Nasarawa Amazons of Lafia top the log with eight points, they are just one ahead of defending champions, Edo Queens of Benin City, who they will battle in the day’s last match, and they will carry the trophy at stake should they win.
On the other hand, in case The Amazons slip up, Edo Queens could knick the title on goals difference ahead of Bayelsa Queens of Yenagoa, who are also on seven points and are expected to beat Super-6 whipping team, Naija Ratels of FCT.
However, the chances of Edo Queens and Bayelsa Queens emerging champions also depend on if Rivers Angels prove true to their pledge and prevent Remo Ladies from winning, which would then take their points to ten as well, considering that they also enter the final day level on seven points apiece.
