We didn’t play at all against Rivers Angels – Bayelsa Queens coach

Following their humiliating 4-0 AITEO Cup semi-final, second leg defeat in the hands of arch rivals Rivers Angels, Bayelsa Queens coach Ayebatonye Amabebe has expressed disappointment at the performance of his players on the day.

In the first leg played at their home ground, Nembe City Stadium, Bayelsa Queens were on the ascendancy in the first half as goals from Macleans Okogbe and Anibaba Ayomide gave them a comfortable 2-0 lead going into the break. They however could not hold their own anymore when they returned for the second half and this led to Rivers Angels eventually equalizing.

The first leg result confirmed Rivers Angels as favourites to progress to the final of the AITEO Cup but Amabebe still believed they could upset the odds and beat Rivers Angels in the return leg which was decided at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium on Wednesday. Instead, his side succumbed to a 4-0 spanking in a game which saw them struggling to create chances.

“I am not really comfortable with the result – not the officiating anyway – I am not comfortable with my team. We didn’t play at all that’s the thing. We came for a purpose and we didn’t do what is expected of us.

“We came to win because the first leg was 2-2, there is no other thing we had to come for but it didn’t work out for us that’s all.”

When asked why he thinks things turned badly for his side, Amabebe said:

“Rivalry. When two rivals play it goes that way. Between Madrid and Barcelona too it happens that way sometimes. Because when you lose the rhythm it goes to that level.”

The Nigeria Women Premier League Super Four is up next on the menu for Bayelsa Queens and they are definitely going to be meeting Rivers Angels again.

“Yes we have to make some corrections. This was an eye-opener. We are going to prepare very well; mentally, psychologically, not just physically because from what we saw here, certain things made us lose (our) rhythm”

Bayelsa Queens and Rivers Angels are scheduled to meet again on 12 October during the NWPL Super Four at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City. If both teams reach the final of the competition, they will go head to head on 13 October as well.