Naija Ratels Forward Motunrayo Ezekiel, Nasarawa Amazons midfielder Aweda Titilayo and Rivers Angels forward Vivian Ikechukwu have been nominated for the NWFL Premiership February Player of the month Awards.

Rivers Angels defeated Sunshine Queens home and away in February, with the Super Falcons forward scoring in both occasion.

She scored the winning goal in Porthacourt at the 63rd minute and recorded her goal in Akure in the 83rd minute.

Motunrayo Ezekiel deservedly got nominated for February Player of the month, after a superlative performance in the game against Pelican Stars. The young utility player scored a hat-trick in their 3-0 bashing of Pelican Stars at the Area 10 Sports Complex, Abuja.

Aweda Titilayo scored twice against her former side, Confluence Queens at the Lafia City Stadium, on Matchday 7, to earn a nomination for the February player of the month award. The attacking midfielder scored in the 33rd and 68th minute to give her side a comfortable 2-0 win.

In the Manager’s category, Osahon Emmanuel of FC Robo Queens, Daniel Evunema of Delta Queens and Edwin Okon of Rivers Angels all got nominated for the prestigious awards.

Osahon won two out of two in February, winning Royal Queens 1-0 in Warri and 3-1 at the Dipo Dina Stadium, Ijebu-Ode on Matchday 8.

Edwin Okon’s side also won Sunshine Queens home and away in February. The Jewel of Rivers defeated the ‘Betty Babes’ 2-1 and 2-0 in Porthacourt and Akure respectively.

Daniel Evunema’s side played out a goalless draw against Abia Angels in Umuahia and went on to beat them 2-0 in Asaba.

The Naija Women Football League Player and Manager of the Month winners was selected by a combination of votes from a panel of Women Football experts and jurists.

The winners will be announced on Wednesday, the 16th of March 2022.

Both Reuben and Okon will be taking home the award for the first time since the monthly award began three seasons ago.

The former Ibom Angels forward scored two late goals each in the game against Edo Queens and Abia Angels to earn her side maximum points in the two games.

Reuben scored a brace as Bayelsa Queens battled to defeat hard-fighting neighbours Edo Queens at the Samson Siasia Stadium, and netted her third goal in February as they got an important away win against Abia Angels in Umuahia.

Okon, meanwhile had a 100% record in the month of February, winning all his three games, which included two victories away from home.

The ‘Jewel of Rivers’ got maximum points in Uyo and Calabar as they defeated both Ibom Angels and Pelican Stars on their homegrounds.

FC Robo Queens star Monday Gift and Osun Babes forward Yemisi Samuel lead the nominees for the December NWFL Premiership player of the month award announced on tuesday, the 29th of December 2020.

Gift Monday produced a stunning month for the ‘Lagos Landladies’ as she scored the first hat-trick of the season and also was crucial to her team’s 1-0 away win to Nasarawa Amazons.

Another nominee for the award is Osun Babes forward Yemisi Samuel who scored a brace in her team’s 3-0 win over Pelican Stars in Osogbo, the former Sunshine Queens player also scored her team’s lone goal in Uyo against Ibom Angels in week one.

Delta Queens striker Dominance Odubanjo is another favourite to land the player of the month award. The former Taraba Queens forward also scored a brace against Dreamstar Ladies in Agbor, with another beautiful display and a goal against Rivers Angels in week 2.

Other nominees are Bayelsa Queens defender Abidemi Ibe who was a rock at the back of the ‘Restoration Girls’ defence and was also instrumental to her side recording three Victories in three matches in the month of December.

Edo Queens defender Jumoke Alani sums up the five nominees for the player of the month award. The young defender was consistent in the ‘Obaseki Girls’ three games, winning two and drawing one against Rivers Angels.

Manager Of The Month Of December.

Five managers were nominated for the NWFL Premiership manager of the month award for December.

Nominees are Yinka Adunola who got off with two wins out of three, including a victory in Uyo against Ibom Angels and a big win at home against Pelican Stars in week three. Another favourite is Rollandson Odeh who recorded two wins and a draw in three matches.

Others are Moses Aduku, who propelled his team to winning three games out of three in the month of December. Edwin Okon for drawing two difficult away games and winning hugely against Delta Queens, Osahon Emmanuel for guiding his side to a 1-0 victory against Nasarawa Amazons in Lafia and a big win against Osun Babes in Lagos.

The winners will be announced on the 4th of January 2021.

Rivers Angels defeated Bayelsa Queens 4-2 on penalties after playing a goalless draw at the end of regulation time.

Okon, said he would not have had any option than to quit the club if the Restoration Girls had triumph, which would have meant losing three straight matches within one month to Bayelsa Queens, their perennial rival.

“Well, it was a good game between two rival teams but as the saying goes – once beaten twice shy.

“We have been beaten twice in two tournaments by the same team in a month and I thought it will not be good to lose the third one to same team again.

“In fact, I saw the clash as a payback time. I was close to quitting my job.

“I thank God that there was no goal in the course of the game, and we got victory after penalty shootouts for the decider.”

The former Super Falcons chief coach revealed that, before the semi final clash, he had earlier told the team’s young goalkeeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie, that, if the game goes into penalties, she would stop three of the kicks. She was very composed and focused ahead of the match.

He added: “My expectation was that, she was good enough to stop more of those penalty kicks. We thanked God for the outcome of the match,” said the former Nigerian women coach to NWPL Media.

Okon said his eyes are now fixed on winning the top prize on Sunday against debutants, Confluence Queens.

“Yes, one thing at a time, we have grossed this bridge against Bayelsa Queens we are going back home to check who is fit and who is not but I know what it takes to be a champion.

“The players, too know what it takes to be champions or play at the highest stage of any competition. They are not going to sleep until we lift the trophy,” said Okon.

The Jewel of Rivers will confront newcomers, Confluence Queens in the final on Sunday to determine the 2018/2019 champions as well as who goes home with the whopping tournament prize money of N3m, as well as one week tour on invitation of the LaLiga Women’s League in Spain.

NWFL MEDIA

The coaches, Moses Aduku of Bayelsa Queens, Rivers Angels manager, Edwin Okon, and Jacob Bandi of Adamawa Queens, are optimistic that their clubs will dominate and win the title.

Bayelsa Queens head coach and ex-junior international, Moses Aduku, told his players he wants to see ‘more bravery’ in them as they vie to retain the title they won last year in Lagos.

The former Flying Eagles midfielder noted that, the squad seems determined to repeat what they achieved last year, defeating Nasarawa Amazons in the final of the Super 4.

Aduku noted: “We have had a lot of training sessions towards the Super 4 and the squad is confident as ever. We would be playing against the best sides in the league and it means we have to be at our best.

Rivers Angels coach and former chief coach of the Super Falcons, Edwin Okon, has been a little discreet about his team’s plan for the Super 4 in Lagos.
He said: “All I can say is that as multiple champions, we are coming to Lagos to regain the title that belongs to us. My girls are more determined than ever to climb back to the top of women’s football in Nigeria.

“With Rivers Angels, Nigerians will see a different kind of football this time around.”

For Adamawa Queens’ chief coach, Jacob Bandi, he said his girls are coming to the centre of excellence to show Nigerians football excellence. A lot of women football supporters just hear about us as one of the top league teams, but they haven’t seen us play before. At the Super 4 in Lagos, Nigerians in the western part of the country will see brilliant display of purposeful football skills from my girls and we will let our opponents know that, we are the best in the Premier League by taking the champions trophy home to Yola.

The Chairperson of the Nigeria Women Football League, Aisha Falode, said in Lagos on Monday that, the 2018/2019 Super 4 will be very exciting and full of action as the competition has equitable share of the clubs from two football playing zones of the country.

“It’s the first time, we shall be seeing two teams each from the Northern part of the country and two from the Niger Delta, coming together to battle for the Premier League title in the Super 4 Challenge.”

NWFL MEDIA.

The NWPL Super 4 competition will hold at the Agege Stadium in Lagos among the top four teams at the end of the NWPL regular season: Adamawa Queens, Bayelsa Queens, Confluence Queens and Rivers Angels.

Okon, who described the NWPL Super 4 as a game of interest however averred that the successful challenge to its hitherto frightening dominance in the past two seasons by Nasarawa Amazons and Bayelsa Queens has greatly redefined the elite competition.

“We cannot be champions forever and it’s nice that a different club has tasted the top prize in the past two seasons. The recent change in taste and redistribution of champions is quite healthy for the league.

“NWPL Super 4 is usually a game of interest and the interest goes a long way to determine where the pendulum swings.

“On our part we will continue to fight for the coveted trophy and other trophies in the land.

“We are doing our home work well to ensure we put up good performance in Lagos hoping that mother luck will smile at us.

“All the four teams are capable of winning the cup at the end of the day, at least, they have already proven their worth by emerging winners in their respective groups,” said the former Nigerian women coach to NWFL Media.

The most decorated side in the domestic front chalked up the most points among its Super 4 challengers – Adamawa Queens, Bayelsa Queens and Confluence Queens during the regular season.

The jewel of Rivers topped Group A with 13 points ahead other challengers, FC Robo Queens, Delta Queens and Osun Babes.

NWPL Super 4 field action will commence on Friday among the four teams, while the third place and final matches will hold on Sunday at the ‘Soccer Temple’ Agege Stadium.