Heartland Queens dedicate victory over Rivers Angels to Gov. Uzodimma
By Athan Agbakwuru, Owerri
Coach of Heartland Queens FC of Owerri, Obi Ogbala has attributed the team’s 2-1 victory over visiting Rovers Angels FC to the charge given to him to go ahead and win his remaining matches in the ongoing Nigeria Women Football League, NWFL 2026.
Ogbala made the disclosure Wednesday at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri while speaking to sports writers immediately after the midweek encounter in Owerri.
Describing the outcome of the match as a morale booster, Ogbala maintained that he is pleased to do as the governor said stressing that the team will never on its oars in adhering to the governor’s directive.
Fielding questions on upcoming games, the Owerri Landladies gaffer noted that the league is a marathon and assured that the team will continue pushing by putting in the best until the season is concluded.
His words, “Like I said, the league is a marathon. Immediately we lost our previous game, we started preparing. No two games are the same. We know we need this match. His Excellency , Senator Hope Uzodimma asked me to win my matches, the remaining matches. And I am pleased to do what he said.
“We really worked for it and the result is there for all to see. Like I said, it’s a marathon. We keep on doing the needful, pushing till we get to the end. This victory will give them some energy to go for the remaining matches and boost their confidence.”
The match which kicked off at 3:58pm saw the Heartland Queens take on the visitors with burning zeal to redeem the their shaking image after suffering a 5-0 defeat in the first leg of their encounter.
Less than three minutes into the blast of the opening whistle, the Landladies secured a corner-kick and moved on to score their first goal in the 5th minute with a long hot shot from No. 4 jersey, Monica Matthew.
As the tackles resumed after the opener, the Heartland Queens intensified pressure from all fronts until Umejiaku Oluebu via a sharp header converted another long shot from the left flank into a goal in the 16th minute.
While both sides battled for supremacy, creating and missing several scoring chances, the visiting Angels pulled a surprise with a header into Queens’ net in the 26th minute to reduce the tally by 2-1.
Salihu’s corner kick made the first half ended 2-1 in favour of the hostesses and the second half began with renewed vigour on either side to carry the day.
Heartland Queens’ continued encroaching the goal mouth of the Angels, a foul play in the 18-yard box of the visitors resulted in a penalty awarded to the home team but was grossly missed by No.10 jersey, Samson Faith.
The two sides remained entangled in the struggle to change the scores all through the second half but the match ended 2-1 for the Owerri Landladies.
