Ibom Angels head coach Edwin Okon has expressed disappointment over a costly goalkeeping error that contributed to his side’s 2–1 home defeat against Edo Queens in the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Premiership.
The Matchday Eight encounter, played on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, at the Uyo Township Stadium, saw Edo Queens maintain their impressive form with a sixth consecutive league victory.
The visitors took an early lead through Chioma Moses, before Ibom Angels responded positively as Juliet John restored parity.
However, a late defensive lapse proved decisive, with Mary Mamudu scoring in the 86th minute to hand the Benin City side all three points.
Speaking after the match, Okon admitted the defeat was painful, especially given his team’s overall performance.
“It’s a game we didn’t plan to lose. We were pushing for the three points, and instead we ended up with nothing, which is the worst outcome,” Okon said.
The experienced coach pointed to a decisive moment late in the game, describing the error that led to Edo Queens’ winner as unfortunate but costly.
“At that level, the game was 50–50. It was just that mistake from the goalkeeper and the defence that gave them the last goal,” he explained.
Despite the setback, Okon revealed there were positives to take from the encounter, noting that Ibom Angels matched their opponents for long periods and escaped without serious injuries.
“There’s no serious injury, which is important. What we need to do now is think about how to fortify the team ahead of the second round,” he added.
Looking ahead, Okon acknowledged the challenge of maintaining competitiveness, especially with the quality and calibre of players available, but insisted his side will keep pushing to finish the first round strongly.
“We are doing our best to see how we can meet up and finish this first round well before the second round,” he concluded.
The result leaves Ibom Angels searching for consistency, while Edo Queens continue to establish themselves as one of the early frontrunners in the 2025/2026 NWFL Premiership season.
