Head coach of Edo Queens Football Club Moses Aduku, has expressed shock over his team’s 0-1 loss to vising Abia Angels FC of Umuahia in matchday 6 of the NWFL premiership between Edo Queens FC and Abia Angels FC played yesterday evening at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium Benin City. Marryan Ohadiwe’ 58th minute strike was all that gave Abia Angels their victory.
The home team started the game on the front foot with fine play from their midfield to the final third, but they lacked the cutting edge to get a goal in the first half.
Joy Jerry, Yemisi Samuel, and Suliat all came close to scoring in the first half but the visitor’s goalkeeper, Etim Sunday put up excellent saves to deny the home team deserved goal.
The Umuahia girls had few chances to also get one past their hosts, but the defensive line led by Omowunmi Oshobukola put up a solid display to halt the few advances at them.
The first half ended with no goal from both side as Edo Queens who had more chances and playing time failed to break a well-guarded Abia Angels backline.
Second half resumed with Edo Queens picking it up from where they left it in the first half. They made all efforts to draw the first blood but Abia Angels goalkeeper was just too brilliant stopping all dangerous moves and attempt made Edo Queens. They also couldn’t utilize the chances they had in the early moments of the second half and they were penalized for it by a reenergized Abia Angels who got a goal from the run of play as Nkechi Agams jabbed in from six meters after a well curled in a cross from the edge of the box.
Coach Aduku tried to restore parity when he threw in Glory Osaghae, Omotoke Odueke and Adaobi Okah after 60 minutes. The substitutes almost repaid the trust of their coach, but they saw a glorious chance but the lion- hearted Abia Angels jersey Number 1 Etim Sunday, was always there for her side not allowing any shot enter her goal.
The Aduku led ladies stayed for the rest of the game in the half of their opponents with incessant attacks, but all were well defended by the away defenders who further frustrated Edo Queens with a highly defensive play.
The home girls on two occasions protested handballs from their opponents in the eighteen-yard box but the centre referee looked away from their cries to their disbelief.
Despite all the changes in tactics by Moses Aduku, all his plans were well countered by the visiting coach. The game ended after 5 minutes of added time to the disbelief of Edo Queens players, coaching crew and supporters. It was actually unbelievable for the highly rated Edo Queens players to suffer home defeat in the hands of Abia Angels.
Speaking after the match, Moses Aduku said he was disappointed at the result of the game, but he stated that this will further push them to work on discovered lapses.
“It’s football you win some and lose some, it doesn’t mean if you play at home or not, but what’s more important is my girls played very well, we were not just fortunate to make our efforts count.”
“We made good substitutions and they almost have their mission accomplished, but that’s football, we have to take it like that.”
“I don’t like talking about referees because they are human beings and sometimes they make mistakes. The Abia Angels girls also played well and they converted their chance to win the game.”
For Ann Chiejine, her girls played to the instructions given and she’s happy to have won the game.
“I’m happy just as every coach would be. We worked hard for the win. I took my time to study the team very well and I discovered that they are good in defence and midfield, so, we capitalized on the remaining part and the instructions given to my players were what they carried out.The officiating was okay, not too bad. The most important thing is that we won.”
