By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
In the tradition of Football Ads (FA) Cup competitions, Imo Angels Football Club of Owerri have vowed to give their opponents Nasarawa Amazons a run for their money when both clash today in Ilorin in the preliminary round of the annual AITEO Cup.
The match billed for Ilorin Township Stadium in the capital of Kwara state by 4 pm this Saturday is expected to be a fight between David and Goliath because Nasarawa Amazons have more pedigree than the Owerri-based Imo Angels FC.
While Nasarawa Amazons play in the elite Nigeria Women’s Football League (NWFL), Imo Angels are climbing their way to the top from the amateur rank, although the team finished second in the Imo State FA Cup competition to qualify to represent the state in the AITEO Cup 2022 edition.
According to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Imo Angels FC, Ms. Jennifer Anusiem the team which have since settled down in Ilorin are primed to ruffle feathers when they confront the former winners of the AITEO Cup.
Said she: “our players are in high spirit and I am optimistic they will give good account of themselves. It will not be a surprise to me if we beat Nasarawa Amazons. We are not afraid of any team. This is a Cup match and anything can happen “.
Imo Angels which boasts of young talented players agile goalkeeper, Jecinta Echefu and
Favour Iheagwaram, a Right Full Bacck who can play as utility player, played a friendly rest match against Green Foot Academy at Liberty Stadium Enugu few days ago will confront Nasarawa Amazons with victory in their minds today.
Meanwhile, the match which was earlier schedule for tomorrow was brought forward due to what the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) described as it’s inability to vacate a case brought to the organisers by one of the aggrieved teams in the competition.
For this reason, the federation effected a SWAP of two matches in Ilorin centre by bringing forward Match No.09 (Women), Imo Angels vs Nasarawa Amazon to hold today while Match No. 17 (Men), Bendel Insurance Feeders (Edo) vs Dannaz FC (Lagos) will hold on Sunday.
