NWPL Super 4: Nasarawa Amazons Coach Vows to Defend Title Despite Absence of Key Players

Nasarawa Amazons Head coach, Chris Danjuma has vowed to successfully defend the league crown at the upcoming Nigeria Women Premier League (NWPL) Super 4 despite the absence of two key players, Amarachi Okoronkwo and Anam Imo.

The two players, who are on national assignment with the Super Falcons in China for an invitational tournament, were last week signed by Hungarian giants, Ferencvarosi Torna Club. The duo were standout at the 2018 Africa Women Cup of Nations (AWCON) in Ghana where Nigeria claimed her ninth title.

Anam Imo still holds the bragging rights as the top scorer of the 2017/18 NWPL regular season and was crucial for her side coming top of their group on a princely 29 points.

The 2018 NWPL Super 4 tournament will hold from January 23 – 26 with defending champions, Nasarawa Amazons, Bayelsa Queens, Sunshine Queens and 2018 Aiteo Cup winners, Rivers Angels, battling for the league title.

Danjuma noted: “The 2018 Nigeria Women Premier League (NWPL) title will return to Lafia at the end of the Super 4. Nasarawa Amazons are the defending champions and we are coming to Lagos to show that we are the best women’s premier league club in Nigeria.”

“People are already expressing deep worries over our ability to defend the title due to the absence of our two key players, Anam Imo and Amarachi Okoronkwo.

“Yes, the two players were key members of the team and quite useful to the team’s past achievements.

“We will certainly feel their absence at the NWPL Super 4, no doubt about it, but no player is indispensable especially in a club as big as Nasarawa Amazons. I am confident their absence will not hinder us from retaining the league crown.”

Danjuma insisted that the Amazons have good replacements for Anam and Amarachi, good enough to ensure the club’s title defence.

“We have a good pool of players for each of the departments, at least, we have three or four players to each department. We have good and quality replacements for the two players. What if they are injured. Aside from that as a football coach one must be ready for [a] change in tactical formation at all times.

“The 2018 NWPL Super 4 will show Nigerians Nasarawa Amazons can win title anywhere. We equally want to make a case that our 2017 Super 4 victory in Benin City was not a fluke but well-deserved. I am happy our first match will be a repeat of the NWFL 2018 Champions Shield clash against Rivers Angels, we hope to right the wrong this time around.”

“We cannot be beaten twice by same team and denied the silverware we so much want in our shelve,” Danjuma added.

The Al Makura Girls are winners of Group B in the regular season and would confront perennial rivals and Group A runners-up, Rivers Angels.

Similarly, Group A winners, Bayelsa Queens will square up with Group B runners-up and newcomers, Sunshine Queens.