Sports
Uzoenyi’s Performance At CHAN Excites Rangers, Others
Rangers International FC of
Enugu and other soccer pundits have expressed joy over home-based Super Eagles Ejike Uzoenyi’s professional soccer deal with the Orlando Pirates of South Africa.
The move followed Uzoenyi’s brilliant performance at the just-ended third African Nations Championship (CHAN) in South Africa.
The Eagles were three goals down against Morocco in the quarter-finals of the competition at Cape Town Stadium when Uzoenyi scored the equalizer in the 90th minute.
Uzoenyi, a player with Rangers was voted CHAN Most Valuable Player (MVP) at the championship.
Rangers’ spokesperson, Forster Chime, said that the club would never cease producing players for the national team.
Chime added that Rangers would not stop its players from honouring national team call up at any time, since national assignment was paramount than club assignment.
“We have three other players at the tournament, Ugonna Uzochukwu, Chigozie Agbim, and Christian Obiozor, who did not only participate but were useful throughout the tournament.
“Uzoenyi won the best player at the tournament while Obiozor won the bronze for the country with his only debut goal of the tournament.
“As it stands, the four players are being circled by foreign clubs, while the Eagles team B Captain, Agbim’s contract with us has been terminated,” he said.
Also speaking, Chinaedu Efugh, the Captain, Heartland FC of Owerri said that Uzoenyi’s 90th minute equalizer deserved him the deal.
“I am happy for him; his rise is a beckon of hope for us in the national league, his progress will have a ripple effect on our league.
“I doff my hat for him; it is a welcome development for the home-based Eagles,” Efugh said.
Isah Akor also of Heartland said that the player’s ascendancy to higher grounds in his career depicted resilience and better reward for a player who had been consistent.
“Uzoenyi is one Nigeria player that should be emulated by upcoming players if they wish to make an appreciable mark in the round-leather sport,” the striker said.
The Coordinator, Enugu Pepsi Football Academy and Director of Information, Enugu Sports Ministry, Edwin Eze, said that Uzoenyi deserved all the accolades.
“We have yet to see the best of him, he is somebody I know from the beginning, with good mentoring, the player will hit stardom soon,” he said.
In a statement released by the league, the competition is scheduled to take place from Friday, June 5 to Sunday, June 14, 2026, with six clubs set to battle for the league title at the end of the 2025/26 season.
NWFL Chief Operating Officer, Modupe Shabi, said the choice of Port Harcourt reflects the Rivers State Government’s continued support for women’s football and its successful hosting of the league’s Annual General Assembly last year.
The Super Six tournament will feature the top three teams from Group A and Group B of the regular season competing in a round-robin format, with each club playing five matches over nine days.
Qualified teams for the competition include defending champions Bayelsa Queens, Edo Queens, Rivers Angels, Robo Queens, Nasarawa Amazons, and debutants Abia Angels.
The NWFL Premiership has produced four different winners in the last five editions, with Rivers Angels winning in 2021, Bayelsa Queens claiming the title in 2022 and 2025, Delta Queens triumphing in 2023, and Edo Queens emerging champions in 2024.
The league also urged participating clubs to comply with all competition regulations and directives ahead of the championship. The Super Six will determine Nigeria’s representative for the WAFU-B qualifiers for a place at the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League and ultimately the 2027 FIFA Women’s Champions Cup.
Teams are expected to arrive on Friday, June 5, when the draw ceremony and pre-match meeting will also take place. Matchdays are scheduled for June 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14, with rest days in between before the tournament concludes with the trophy presentation ceremony.
