By Harry Awurumibe, Africa’s No.1 Women’s Football Journalist
Once beaten, twice shy…Hapless Rivers Angels FC of Port Harcourt. Beaten twice in the on-going CAFWCL in Egypt
Nigeria’s Women’s Football League (NWFL) Champions, Rivers Angels of Port Harcourt, has mathematically crashed out of the maiden CAF TotalEnergies Women’s Champions League after losing 0-1to Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies of South Africa in the second Group B match played at El Salam Stadium in Egypt on Tuesday.
The South Africa and COSAFA (Southern Africa) Zonal Champions had also defeated Vihiga Queens of Kenya 1-0 in its first group game to garner six points which has guaranteed a semi-final place while Rivers Angels which had suffered a 3-0 loss to ASFAR FC of Morocco in the first Group B tie have lost two matches on the bounce and have now crashed out of the competition no matter the result of the last match.
In today’s game, Zanele Nhlapho’s goal in the 16th minute settled the game despite the controversial nature of the goal whether it crossed the goal line or not as the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) and Goal Line Technology is not in use at the tournament.
This is even as the defeat has dimmed the hopes of Rivers Angels from making it out of the group stage of the on-going competition when the team play Vihiga Queens in its final group game. Should Rivers Angels lose the third match, it will be a barometer with which to measure the state of women’s football in Nigeria, a country once feared for her exploits at the national team level.
South Africans have become Nigeria’s Nemesis at club and national teams level.
Mamelodi Sundowns will trade tackles with ASFAR FC to determine the group leaders just as the South Africans with a maximum of six points occupy the top position in Group B ahead of ASFAR FC and Vihiga Queens with three points apiece.
Earlier on the day, Vihiga Queens FC of Kenya brightened their Champions league dreams with a 2-0 win over ASFAR of Morocco. The CECAFA (East African) Zonal Champions (Vihiga Queens) recovered from the opening Group B game 1-0 defeat by Mamelodi Sundowns to earned the victory over ASFAR in the second match on Tuesday.
Violet Wanyonyi scored the first goal of the game for Vihiga Queens from close range while one of Vihiga Queens’ top goal scorers at the CECAFA Zonal Qualifiers, Jentrix Shikangwa scored the Kenyan Champions’ second goal in the 51st minute.
Vihiga Queens will face Rivers Angels in its final Group B game while ASFAR FC squares up with Mamelodi Sundowns with a chance to book a place in the semi-final.
Related
Sports Revelation Online ..breaking authenic sports reports