Uju Joseph scored the decisive penalty as last season’s Aiteo Cup Champions, Rivers Angels became winners of the 2018 NWFL Champions Shield, defeating Nasarawa Amazons 4-3 on penalties with the score even at the end of regulation time.

In a game of two halves, Alice Ogebe’s 41st minute goal was cancelled out by Ejalombu Adejoke’s header in the 58th minute.

Rivers Angels settled in the quicker of both sides as Evelyn Nwaobouku’s free-kick in the 7th minute sailed inches over the bar.  Mary Saiki also went close to getting the opener in the 16th minute but her header from a free-kick was just against the side netting. The Nasarawa Amazons goalkeeper almost gifted the team from Rivers a goal when she anticipated a flighted pass wrongly and came off her line but Vivian Ikechukwu could not profit as her cross was well defended. Nasarawa Amazons were limited to counter attacks in first half which were well curbed by the Rivers Angels defence.

However, Rivers Angels’ tenacity finally paid off as Alice Ogebe got the opener in the 41st minute after Mary Saiki’s cross fell kindly for her in the box and she swept it goalwards as it took a deflection on its way in.
Vivian Ikechukwu’s long range effort which was well gathered was the last kick of the first half.

Nasarawa Amazons came in spirited in the second half as they began on the front foot. It took just 13 minutes into the second half as Ejalombu Adejoke guided home a cross from a Nasarawa freekick to get last season’s NWFL winners the equaliser. Joy Duru also tested the goalkeeper from a free-kick but her effort was tame.

However, against the run of play, Alice Ogebe thought she scored the winner for River Angels with just 10 minutes to go but her goal was chalked off for offside.

Nasarawa Amazons continued to threaten with no success as the referee sounded the final whistle.
Rivers Angels then became the eventual winners of the

2018 NWFL Champions Shield as Uju Joseph scored the decisive penalty to give them a 4-3 win.