The Solid Miners’ women stunned the oil-rich Port Harcourt ladies to the title of the Nigeria Women Professional Football League for the preceding season
Nasarawa Amazons football club have been crowned champions of the 2012/13 Nigeria Women Professional League after edging out Federation Cup defending champions Rivers Angels 4-2 on penalties on Thursday.
The encounter played at the Lokoja Confluence Stadium, Kogi State ended 0-0 at regulation time.
Rivers Angels who were dubbed favourites, missed out for failing to convert their several half chances while the Lafia girls tactically held out their opponents who defeated them 3-0 in the 2013 Federation Cup final.
Speaking after the match, Rivers Angels coach Edwin Okon despite admitting defeat, bemoaned the defensive tactics of the Hamza Abdullahi-led Amazons though noted his girls have learnt their lessons from the game while the team manager Otuene Matilda insisted the better side lost but admits her ladies “failed to convert their chances”.
Okon, the caretaker coach of the Super Falcons told Goal: “Either you win or lose, that is football. Penalty is no man’s game. We have seen where we made mistakes; we failed to take our chances, so we have to go back to the drawing board.”
The captain and head coach of Nasarawa Amazons, Maryam Ibrahim and Hamza Abdullahi both described the outcome of the game as “unexpected, but a result of good preparation”.
The chairman of the club, Audu Nuhu however dedicated the victory to the state government and people of Nasarawa State.
“We are delighted, we are dedicating the victory to the Nasarawa state government and good people of the state, and pray for their continual support of the team to win the Women Premier League,” the chairman said.
In a related development, the new edition of the Nigeria Women Premier League season which was earlier fixed for February 15 has been postponed to 1st March.
The new kick off date was picked during the Nigeria Women Football League congress held in Lokoja, with 24 club representatives, members of the board and stakeholders present.
The week one fixture billed for March 1st and 2nd will see Sunshine Queens host champions, Nasarawa Amazons, Confluence Queens travel to Bayelsa Queens and Adamawa Queens play at home to Pelican Stars, while Ibom Angels visit Osun Babes.
Police Machine will slog it out in a Lagos derby with FC Robo while 2012 Federation Cup winners Delta Queens host defending champions Rivers Angels in the star match of the weekend to be beamed live by the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA).
Author: Chief Editor
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