Sports

Rivers Angels Sign Three Ghanaians …Appoint GM

Published

6 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.

Niger Delta

Royal Father Endorses PH Arsenal Community, Pledges To Support

Published

3 days ago

May 29, 2026

The Tide

The Amanyanabo of Koniju town, in Okrika Local Government Area, Rivers State, His Royal Majesty, King Winston Odiye Alamina Oputibeya XII, has expressed satisfaction over the activities of Port Harcourt Arsenal Community.

He further said that bringing Arsenal fans together for a common purpose, which is love, unity, and peace, is commendable and pledges to support the community in his own little way.

HRM Oputibeya said this when some members of the community, led by Ugochukwu Oputa, paid him a courtesy visit in his house in Port Harcourt yesterday.

According to him, he started supporting and following Arsenal Football Club some decades back, saying that anybody who loves good football must love Arsenal because players in Arsenal play good football.

“I was longing to meet leaders of the community to also be part of it because I like their organizational structure and I love Arsenal.

“The activities of the Port Harcourt Arsenal Community for me are satisfactory; that is why I am associating with it.

“I would like members to conduct themselves in a civil manner because football fans all over are the progress of their club and love,” he said.

Earlier, the coordinator of the Port Harcourt community, Ugochukwu Oputa, thanked the royal father for accepting the community, assuring that the group will do her best to get recognition and connection with Arsenal FC in London.

Oputa narrated the activities lined up by the community on Saturday, saying that everything had been put in place for the street procession.

In his vote of thanks, a member of the Arsenal Community, Com. Tonye Orabere also thanked the Amanyanbo for his magnanimity and pledged to assist the community. He prays God to continue to bless him.

Tonye Orabere

Sports

PH To Host 2026 NWFL Super Six

Published

3 days ago

May 29, 2026

The Tide

The Nigeria Women Football League has announced Port Harcourt as the host city for the 2026 Premiership Super Six, marking the first time the season-ending tournament will be held in Rivers State.

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.

Sports

Khana, Akpajo All-Stars Set For Friendly Match ” Morrow”

Published

3 days ago

May 29, 2026

The Tide

Khana All Stars FC in the Khana Local Government Area, Rivers State, will tomorrow host Akpajo All Stars in a friendly football match at the Ken Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic, Bori, football pitch.

The return leg of the friendly game promises to be exciting and entertaining as both teams are prepared.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Tidesports yesterday in Port Harcourt, the chairman of Khana All Stars FC, Saro Tap-le, said preparations for the game are in top gear.

According to him, they will use the match to honour and decorate their patron, the Chairman of Khana LGA, Dr. Bariere Thomas.

He said the encounter won’t be an easy one, knowing that Akpaoju All Stars are coming with full force to win the match.

“We played in Akpajo before, and they hosted us well, so tomorrow is our day to host them back. We are doing everything possible to give them a good fight. All arrangements for hosting them are in top gear.

“There is no cause for alarm. We are doing our best to host them in a big way. It is an All-Stars game, so winning is not the most important thing. What matters is the relationship we will create.

“You know, in the first encounter they defeated us 2-0, so tomorrow we will do our best to ensure we repay the scoreline.

“I think my teammates are training very hard for the game. Despite the fact that it’s not all about winning, we are going to surprise them,” Saro Tap-le stated.

Kiadum Edookor