Ahead of Match Day 10 of the Nigeria Women Football League Premiership encounter against Edo Queens on Wednesday, Rivers Angels head coach, Whyte Ogbonda has revealed that it's a must-win for his side so that they can seal their qualification for this season's Super 6.
Ogbonda made this known after the team's last training session in Port Harcourt on Monday morning. He also stated that the team has one mission in Benin City, which is to win, and the players are aware of the mission.
According to coach Ogbonda, they can't afford to drop points in Benin irrespective of the opinion of his opponent, who has also declared the match a must win.
"Well, everybody have their mouth, Edo Queens can say whatever they want to say. We have rounded up our training, and come Wednesday just as they're planning, we are also planning.
"The match against Edo Queens is our qualification ticket to Super Six. Just as I have told the players, if we get the three points from Edo Queens, we have qualified for the Super Six".
Furthermore, Whyte Ogbonda added that the reason why his opponent declared the match a must win battle is because they know that a loss will dim their chances of qualifying for Super Six, but his team is not ready to lay low for Edo Queens because the group is tight.
"We are going there to get a win knowing fully well that we are in a tight group, so we are not going to loose guard. I think the major reason they're talking tough is that they're at the relegation zone, what I mean is that they're not sure of qualifying for Super Six".
"So if anything happens in that match and we beat them, their qualification for Super Six is gone. We also want to get the three points knowing fully well if we get it, it will make our qualification for Super Six very easy. "
"We want to qualify for Super Six before we play our last league match against Ekiti Queens".
The Rivers Angels coach expressed confidence despite having three of his key players in Ghana with the Falconets for African Games and that the players available will execute the job in Benin City. Motunrayo Ezekiel , Chiamaka Okwuchukwu, and Blessing Okpe are the players with the Falconets
"Despite the fact that I have three of my key players at the African games, I think the players I have now can execute the game".
The reverse fixture ended 3 - 1 in Port Harcourt, Motunrayo Ezekiel ( brace) and Chiamaka Okwuchukwu were the goal scorers.
Credit: Rivers United Media
By Olaleye Oluwadamilola