Sports

Rivers Angels Sign Three Ghanaians …Appoint GM

Published

5 years ago

October 16, 2020

Rivers Angels Football Club of Port Harcourt, has completed the signing of three Ghanaian players ahead of the upcoming Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Premiership season.

Patricia Mantey (Ghana Immigration Services), Mary Essiful (Soccer Intellectuals Fc) and Gifty Acheampong (Thunder Queens FC), all agreed one-year deals with the NWFL defending Champions.

The trio are a goalkeeper, midfielder and centre forward respectively and they are expected in Port Harcourt, by next week.

One of the newly signed players, Acheampong expressed her delight joining the defending champions.

The 20-year-old player told Tidesports source that signing for the Port Harcourt side would give her more international exposure.

“I’ve been hearing so much about this team and have seen how consistent they’ve been every season.

“Their winning mentality is one of the reasons I decided to join them because I equally love winning.

“I’ve equally seen most of their players get bigger deals in the European scene which is the prayer of most players playing in the domestic league and I’m certain my stay here will give me more opportunities.

“I also intend to win a title or even more while I’m here with them”, said Acheampong.

Acheampong featured at the 2016 U-17 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Jordan where she scored 2 goals and had 1 assist in four matches.

The other two players; Mantey, 28, and Essiful, 27, are senior national team players with the Black Queens of Ghana and were in the team that hosted the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in 2018.

In another development, Matilda Onyiloha-Otuene has been promoted to the post of General Manager of Rivers Angels FC.

Onyiloha-Otuene who has been Team Manager of the Jewel of Rivers for 12years was elevated to this position by the state’s Ministry of Sports on Tuesday.

While she served as Team Manager, she ensured the club remained at the top of their game every season and won trophies for the team.

Reacting to her latest position, Onyiloha-Otuene said that she was grateful with the promotion and pledged to put in more efforts to take Rivers Angels to an advanced level.

“Firstly I want to thank the Commissioner of Sports, Honourable Boma Iyaye and the Permanent Secretary, Sir Honour Sirawoo for their continuous faith in me” Onyiloha-Otuene said.

“I promise never to take this privilege for granted because such only happens once in a lifetime.

“My goal for this club has always been winning and it hasn’t changed as I will keep working closely with the technical crew to ensure we achieve our target” she stated.

Consequently, all players and officials of Rivers Angels FC have completed their medicals as they prepare towards the commencement of the NWFL season.

The team is comprised of 35 players and 13 officials (technical and backroom staff) and were duly tested for Covid-19 and other health related examination and results for the dreaded disease came out negative as they await the announcement of football activities in the country by authorities.

Sports

AFCON: Lookman gives Nigeria third place

Published

1 week ago

January 19, 2026

The Tide

Ademola Lookman converted the spot-kick that gave Nigeria a 4-2 penalty shoot-out victory over Egypt after a 0-0 draw on Saturday in the Africa Cup of Nations third-place play-off.

Victory for the Super Eagles in Casablanca followed the disappointment of losing shoot-outs that cost them chances to compete at the 2026 World Cup and in the 2025 AFCON final.

Nigeria lost on penalties to the Democratic Republic of Congo last November in a play-off for a place in the World Cup intercontinental play-offs.

Then, three days ago, they lost another shoot-out to fail against hosts Morocco in an AFCON semi-final.
Success maintained a perfect Nigerian record in third place AFCON matches after seven previous play-offs victories.
Before Lookman scored, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru missed the Eagles’ first kick, then Akor Adams, captain Moses Simon and Alex Iwobi scored.

Premier League pair Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush both had kicks saved by Stanley Nwabali before Ramy Rabia and Mahmoud Saber scored.

Egypt made six changes and Nigeria five to the teams that started semi-final losses to Senegal and hosts Morocco respectively three days ago.
Captain Salah started for the Pharaohs while traditional first choices in goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy and forward Marmoush were among the substitutes.

Attackers Victor Osimhen and Lookman, both former winners of the annual African player of the year award, sat on the bench for Nigeria.

Most Moroccans in a crowd that nearly filled the 45,000-capacity Stade Mohammed V backed Nigeria. They whistled whenever Egypt gained possession and when coach Hossam Hassan was shown on the big screen.
This support for the Super Eagles was attributed to the great rivalry between Morocco and Egypt, both at national team and club levels.

– Goals disallowed –
Nigeria initially, then Egypt had spells of dominance in a goalless opening half on a cold, cloudy evening in the Moroccan commercial capital.
Paul Onuachu thought he had broken the deadlock on 36 minutes as he deflected the ball with his head past goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir.

However, a VAR review by the Moroccan referee revealed Onuachu had accidently struck Hamdy Fathy with an elbow. The goal was disallowed and the Nigerian yellow-carded.

Lookman was introduced by coach Eric Chelle for the second half, replacing Onuachu, and he had the ball in the net in the opening minute of the second period. However, the goal was ruled out for offside.

Nigeria started after the break with a series of attacks. Following a largely uneventful first half, Shobeir — the son of former Egypt goalkeeper Ahmed Shobeir — was forced to make several saves.

Salah seldom threatened and when he did cut in with the ball, the potential danger was quickly averted. Marmoush came on as the play-off passed the hour mark to try and boost a blunt strike force.

But as the match entered the final 10 minutes there was no sign of Osimhen being brought on, suggesting he might not have been fully fit.

In quick succession, Adams, then Marmoush threatened to score, but neither could deliver the finishing touch under pressure from opponents.

Salah then disappointed when offered a scoring opportunity from a free-kick outside the box. He hit the ball straight into the wall and it was swiftly cleared.

Sports

Tinubu Lauds Super Eagles’ after AFCON bronze triumph

Published

1 week ago

January 19, 2026

The Tide

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated Nigeria’s national football team, the Super Eagles, on their bronze medal victory at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Saturday, the President praised the team for their resilience and professionalism, noting that the players rose above the disappointment of their semi-final defeat to hosts Morocco earlier in the week to finish the tournament strongly.

The Super Eagles secured third place after overpowering Egypt, a seven-time AFCON champion, in the bronze medal match.

Nigeria dominated proceedings during regulation time before edging their opponents in a tense penalty shootout.

President Tinubu said the victory was a clear reflection of the determination and can-do spirit that define Nigeria, describing the team’s response to adversity as exemplary.

“Despite their good run during the tournament, the Eagles lost the semi-final match to Morocco during the penalty shootout last Wednesday, and our people’s hopes of winning the championship were dashed.

“However, our players remained undaunted, and exhibiting the resilience of the Nigerian spirit, their efforts have now paid off”, the President said.

The President noted that Nigerians would take pride in seeing the team receive their medals at the official ceremony on Sunday in Rabat, where the tournament is being concluded.

“We will all be proud of them as they receive their hard-earned bronze medal. Thank you, our gallant Super Eagles. Thank you, our national team players. This bronze medal surely feels good like gold”, he added.

Sports

Fulham Manager Eager To Receive Iwobi, Others

Published

1 week ago

January 19, 2026

The Tide

Fulham head coach Marco Silva has expressed his eagerness to welcome back Super Eagles stars Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey and Samuel Chukwueze after their third-place playoff at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations on Saturday, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

The Cottagers have been without their Nigerian trio since they departed for the tournament in Morocco, with all three in excellent form and integral to Silva’s starting lineup prior to their departure.

Despite their absence, Fulham have fared remarkably well, losing just one of their last seven games in all competitions while playing without the Nigerian contingent.

The players are expected to return to West London shortly, as Nigeria conclude their campaign against Egypt in the third-place match on Saturday.

Silva discussed their impending return during his pre-match press conference ahead of Fulham’s Premier League clash against Leeds United, which the Cottagers lost 1-0 on Saturday.

“This is the last game the three players at AFCON will miss,” Silva said, according to Jack Kelly.

“When you have all the squad available, you’re going to be stronger as a team. Like when Kenny, King or Muniz will be back – they will be very important for us.”

The defeat to Leeds leaves Fulham 10th in the Premier League table with 31 points as they head into the final four months of the season.

After the third-place playoff, Bassey, Iwobi and Chukwueze are expected to leave Morocco together immediately and should be available for Fulham’s game against Brighton at Craven Cottage on January 24.