Sports
2019 Super 4: NWFL Hails Wike, Rivers Angels On Feat
The management board of the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) ably led by Aisha Falode has warmly congratulated the governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike and the Rivers State owned Women’s premier League team, Rivers Angels, for their well-deserved victory at the just concluded 2018/2019 Nigeria Women Premier League (NWPL) Super 4 championship.
The Jewels of Rivers defeated hard-fighting newcomers, Confluence Queens of Lokoja, with one unanswered goal at the final of the 2019 NWPL Super 4 on Sunday at the Agege Stadium in Lagos.
Cecilia Nku’s well-taken penalty in the second minute proved decisive to hand the Port Harcourt side the enviable trophy and seventh domestic title in the hotly contested final that was witnessed by two serving cabinent ministers, the Minister of Women’s Affairs, Mrs Paulen Tallen, the Youth and Sports Minister, Sunday Dare as well as the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Comrade Phillip Shaibu represented by the chairman, Edo State Sports Commission, Barrister Godwin Dudu-Orumen, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president, Amaju Pinnick represented by the NFF first vice president and Lagos state FA chairman, Barr Seyi Akinwunmi, the Nigeria Referees Association president, Tade Azeez, former Nigerian internationals and NWFL board members, among other dignitaries.
Falode, who took special notice of the Rivers State governor’s uncommon and unwavering financial support over the years to the team insisted that the team awesome and overwhelming dominance of women’s football in the land would not have been possible without the unfailing interest and support of the governor especially as it concerns the welfare of the team and “We want to congratulate the governor of Rivers State, Wike and the newest Nigerian champions, Rivers Angels for their victory at the just concluded 2018/2019 Nigeria Women Premier League (NWPL) Super 4.
“We have taken keen interest in the governor’s special and passionate interest and support for the team over the years.
“We make bold to say that the immediate victory and past victories achieved by the team may not have been possible without the huge financial support of the governor to the team.
“Of course, we need not reinstate the obvious that the team happens to be one of those state-owned clubs that earn their salaries regularly.
“Aside, we have equally noted that the governor does not joke with the welfare of the team in every aspect of it.
“Of course, the saying that, to whom much is given, much is expected, is very apt in describing the many laudable achievements of the team over the years.
“Worthy of note is the fact that Rivers Angels are almost the nursery and pool of material for the various national teams.
“Rivers Angels are by virtue of their 2018/2019 NWPL Super 4 victory have become instant beneficiaries of the maiden one week tour to Spain courtesy of the LaLiga/NWFL partnership deal.
“We plead with the governor to further open his coast especially now that the team will be shouldering the whole responsibility of the Women League as ambassadors to the first of its kind NWFL supervised tour of Spain,” said the NWFL chairperson, Falode.
Additionally, the 2019 Nigerian champions, Rivers Angels, pocketed the championship prize money of N3million and giant trophy. The first runners-up, Confluence Queens took home N2million, while the second runners-up, Bayelsa Queens pocketed N1million for their efforts.
Rivers Angels, too equally qualified to engage the 2018 Aiteo Cup winners, Nasarawa Amazons in the upcoming third edition of the best of the best championship the Champions Shield.
Gialuigui Donnarumma (Italy and Man City)
One of the greatest strikers of the past 15 years, Poland’s Robert Lewandowski, is among the big names who will not be playing at the 2026 World Cup in Canada, the United States and Mexico.
The 37-year-old Barcelona striker, who has scored 89 goals for his country, was not able to inspire his side as they lost 3-2 in Stockholm against Sweden in Tuesday’s play-off final.
Lewandowski, who won the German Bundesliga title on 10 occasions, twice with Borussia Dortmund and then in eight successive seasons with Bayern Munich, before winning La Liga twice with Barca, may have played in his last major international tournament.
Lewandowski captained Poland at the World Cup in 2018, but did not score in Russia as his country came bottom of the group. He had a better tournament four years later in Qatar, scoring twice as Poland reached the last 16 before losing to France.
He netted four times in Group G in 2026 qualifying only for Poland to finish three points behind the Netherlands, before losing to Sweden on Tuesday.
Gialuigui Donnarumma (Italy and Man City)
Another star that will be missing in action at the mundial is Gialuigui Donnarumma of Italy.
Italy lost in the World Cup play-offs for a third successive qualifying tournament
Gianluigi Donnarumma has been one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League this season since he moved from Paris St-Germain for £26m in September, after helping the French club win the Champions League last season.
Despite being player of the tournament as Italy won the 2020 European Championship, he misses out on a World Cup again after Italy lost 4-1 on penalties to Bosnia-Herzegovina on Tuesday.
Serhou Guirassy (Borussia Dortmund and Guinea)
Serhou Guirassy is Fourth in the list of Bundesliga top scorers this season
Serhou Guirassy has established himself as one of most prolific strikers playing in Europe, with 62 goals in the German Bundesliga over the past three seasons, while no player scored more than his 13 goals in the Champions League in 2024-25.
But he will not be at the World Cup as his country Guinea went out in the first round of African qualifying, finishing fourth in their group, with only four wins and three draws from their 10 matches.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia and PSG)
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia helped Paris St-Germain become European champions last season, scoring in the 5-0 final win over Inter Milan, and he came 12th in the 2025 Ballon d’Or awards.
But Georgia had a miserable campaign in World Cup qualifying as they only picked up three points from a group that contained Spain, Turkey and Bulgaria.
Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray and Nigeria)
Victor Osimhen has scored 26 goals for club and country this season
Victor Osimhen helped Napoli win Serie A in 2023 before moving to Galatasaray, where he grabbed 26 goals in 30 games to take them to the Turkish title last season.
Nigeria drew five of their 10 matches in the first group phase as they finished one point behind winners South Africa, but then had a second chance in the following play-off.
With Osimhen already substituted, Nigeria lost on penalties to DR Congo to miss out on the World Cup.
Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool and Hungary)
Dominik Szoboszlai has scored 12 goals for Liverpool this season
Liverpool and Hungary midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai has impressed this season and scored some stunning long-range goals.
But he will not be at the World Cup after his country let a 2-1 lead slip in their final group game with the Republic of Ireland scoring twice in injury time to clinch a spot in the play-offs and eliminate Hungary.
Female wrestlers in action at Governor Diri Wrestling Classics.
Ondo State wrestlers dominated the women’s events on Day six of the fourth Governor Douye Diri Wrestling Classics in Yenagoa on Monday, claiming gold medals in two of the four women’s freestyle categories.
African champion Khadijat Idris of Ondo State led the charge in the 55kg division, defeating rising talent Mary Ayeloh of Bayelsa State by technical superiority to claim gold. Happiness Soso of Delta State and Augustine Rhoda of Lagos State took bronze medals in the category.
Damola Ojo also flew the Ondo flag proudly in the 76kg event, retaining her title after defeating all opponents in a round-robin format. Nigeria Army wrestler Laide Ojo settled for silver, while Juliet Ogo of Bayelsa State and Mercy Alison of Abia State each claimed bronze.
In the 62kg category, Patience Kakanda of Bayelsa State produced the upset of the day, defeating Nigeria Army’s Precious Tieberi 3-1 in the final to be crowned the new champion. Isioma Abojei of Delta State and Blessing Apah of Dynamite Club won bronze medals.
Rivers State’s Esther Asaolu also retained her title in the 59kg division, overcoming all her opponents in the round-robin format, with Patience Opuene of Bayelsa State finishing as runner-up.
In the men’s events, Solomon Ulabo of Bayelsa State claimed gold in the 79kg category, with Kpum Ayibasisei of Edo State taking silver and Rasheed Saliu of Ondo State and Ebisindei Okorie of Dynamite Club winning bronze. NewLife Ebikeme of Bayelsa State won the 92kg gold, ahead of Perezidei Obaze of Edo State in silver position, while Tobechukwu Udeh of the Nigeria Army and Timilehin Adekanmi of Ondo State claimed bronze medals.