Ijeoma Obi Shoots Rivers Angels To Massive Victory Over Capital City Doves

A brilliant brace from Ijeoma Obi handed Rivers Angels a 4-0 win against new comers, Capital City Doves in a Nigeria Women Premier League Week 1 rescheduled game at the Liberation Stadium on Wednesday.


Rivers Angels dominated the midfield and attacked early in the game with the inspired Effiom Mabel troubling the visitors with her darting runs and crosses from the left flank.

The former Ibom Angels full-back, was playing in place of Ngozi Ebere who is on duty with the national team and made sure Ebere's absence was not felt in the game.

The Port Harcourt based side opened scores on 19 minutes when newly-signed striker from Belarus, Ijeoma Obi rammed home a fantastic bicycle kick which left Oluwaseun Sanusi who was in goal for Doves with no chance at all.

Two minutes later, the double champions increased the tally and this time around it was last season NWPL highest goal scorer, Amarachi Ojinma opening her account for the season.

The former Pelican Stars' forward got a just reward for her efforts after her shot was previously blocked by Sanusi taking advantage of a defensive error by the Abuja side to poke home.

Two soon became three in the 32nd minute as the homers compounded their visitors' woes.

A perfectly weighed cross from Mercy Amanze found centre-back Ihuoma Onyebuchi who teed up Ijeoma Obi to bury it past Sanusi.

Capital City Doves, lacking a cutting edge, outmuscled in the midfield and could not find their way through the Rivers Angels defense on countless occasions.

With ten minutes into the second half, the referee disallowed a goal scored by Grace Henry who pounced on a spilled ball from Sanusi. She was adjudged to be in an offside position.

The home side however continued the game without any protest but so much attention was on the coach of Capital City Doves, Ngozi Ezeh who on three different intervals called on her players to the sidelines after they conceded a goal from Rivers Angels side.

In the 75th minute however, Rivers Angels got icing on their well baked cake with a free kick from 25 yards from Ulunma Jerome who connected the newly introduced Ijeoma Emenike. Emenike did brilliantly to find a relentless Amanze who headed into the net.

It wrapped up an efficient yet comfortable display for the Champions who were yet to kick a ball this term after they walked over Pelicans Stars in Calabar last weekend.

Rivers Angels Starters: Charity John, Ihuoma Onyebuchi, Mabel Effiom, Rosemary Okezie, Ulunma Jerome, Uju Joseph, Amanze Mercy, Ijeoma Obi, Amarachi Ojinma, Cynthia Aku, Grace Henry

Subs: Bidemi Aluko, Ofoegbu Gloria, Peace Obioma, Emenike Ijeoma, Juliet Bassey, Ifeoma Ikenokwalu, Oluchi Okwara

Capital City Dove Starters: Oluwaseun Sanusi, Christy Ucheibe, Oluchi Adibemma, Chinasa Okeiyi, Lizzy Iduh, Chibunna Uzoegbo, Mercy Omokwe, Ada Eila, Njoku Chinyere

Subs: Osuju Juliana, Fidelia Williams, Regini Omoede, Nelly Kalu