The head coach of Edo Queens Football Club of Benin, Moses Aduku Wednesday afternoon, expressed mixed feelings following his team’s narrow loss to Rivers Angels in Match Day 8 of the Nigeria Women Football League Premiership, describing it as a competitive game decided by a moment of brilliance.
Aduku, at the post-match press conference, asserted that the match was evenly balanced, but the opposition capitalised on their chances better.
“It was up to standard, both sides played and the team that scored two goals won the game, but all the same, it was a good game.
The coach commended his players for their determination, especially their late push for an equaliser.
“I give kudos to my players for fighting until the very end. They kept pushing for the equaliser, but it just didn’t come. That’s football.”
“You know, in the first half we got some opportunities to score, but we did not take them. Football is all about scoring. You get your chance, you take it.
Reacting to a question concerning a defensive lapse that gave the home team the win, Aduku said:
“My defenders were caught napping. That goal for me, I saw that it was an offside, but if my defenders had stood well, I think they would have caught up with that. But all the same, football is like that. One mistake, you concede. But all the same, I give kudos to my girls.”
The Falconet’s head coach also spoke about Atume Doosuur, noting that while she has been productive, she still has room for improvement.
“Well, I always give it to her because I know that whenever she has the opportunity of scoring she puts the ball in the net but she could have gotten more than one, that’s what I’m teaching her —not to score only one. By now, Atume should be about 12 goals; but all the same, first season with Edo, six goals in eight games, not bad at all, she’s doing well, but she needs to do better.
On the broader performance of his team and the league, Aduku noted steady progress stating that the standard is rising, there is still room for growth in the league.
“Good, good, Nigerian league is improving but for the japa syndrome that we are seeing, that is reducing the quality of our league, everybody wants to go for greener pasture, but all the same, the coaches are doing well because the replacements are taking place by the day, players are leaving, but replacements are taking place. So we find that the standard is still up here, but we are not there yet.”
Abasiofon Uwah opened the scoring for Rivers Angela from the spot in the 14th minute. Edo Queens’ Atume Dosuur levelled for the visitors on the 26th before Abasiofon Uwah made it a brace for herself and her team’s winner in the 45th minute to go three points clear of Edo Queens with a 2-1 win
With the result, Edo Queens sits 3rd on the group A standings of the NWFL 2025/2026 with 18 points season as the season reaches halfway.