Heartland Queens’ head coach, Obi Ogbala, expressed immense joy and satisfaction after his team secured a hard-fought victory against local rivals Abia Angels in the NWFL Premiership matchday 3 oriental derby at the Enyimba Stadium in Aba.
The Owerri-based team took the lead in the first half with a goal from midfielder Oluchi Okwara in the added minutes.
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Abia Angels responded with determination, levelling the score at 1-1 in the 54th minute through Damilola Adebayo.
However, Mary Lucky’s decisive header in the 57th minute secured the match-winning goal for Heartland Queens.
The thrilling encounter also saw a penalty opportunity for Abia Angels, but Heartland Queens’ goalkeeper, Uchenna Chukwu, expertly saved the spot kick, preserving the visitors’ lead and securing a final score of 2-1.
Coach Obi Ogbala, in an elated mood, expressed his excitement about the outcome, emphasizing the significance of the win in their quest for qualification for the Super Six.
“I feel quite elated with the outcome of the derby because knowing what we wanted, which is qualification for the Super Six.
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I know already that if we do not pick points on the road, it will be difficult to achieve the mark. You know we already lost one at Nasarawa Amazons, so I am super excited and happy,” said Ogbala.
He acknowledged the intensity of local derbies and praised both teams for their focused approach to the match.
Ogbala highlighted the significance of the victory, noting that it sends a strong statement and contributes to Heartland Queens’ points tally, bringing it to six out of a possible nine.
While recognizing the pressures and tensions inherent in derby matches, Ogbala emphasized that the better side won and expressed confidence in his team’s performance.
He also mentioned that the coaching staff would address identified lapses to improve in upcoming matches.
Heartland Queens will host Confluence Queens in their next fixture on matchday 4, scheduled for Wednesday, December 06, at the Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri.
