All squared in the first meeting in Owerri and the reverse promises to be a straight fight to finish when the oriental nextdoor neighbours, Abia Angels and Heartland Queens clash in Wednesday’s NWFL Premiership matchday 11 on the turf of Umuahia Township Stadium, Umuahia, Abia state.
The first game in Owerri between the premier leaguers ended in a frustrating goalless draw thereby making the reverse a battle royale that can go either side depending on how the benches dished out instructions to the field personnel to execute.
A lot of familiarities abound on the sides from the dugouts to the artisans, and the factors are surely going to play a decisive role on how the pendulum swings on matchday. The gaffer in the dugout at the Umuahia side, Adanna Nwaneri was the immediate past vice to the opposite in Owerri, Obi Ogbala last season, and the players, too, a lot of crisscrossing aplenty among them.
Prior to Wednesday’s showdown, the Umuahia Angels were dazed with two unanswered goals by former champions, Nasarawa Amazons in Lafia in matchday 10 game while their auspicious guests got a same unnerved doses in the hands of the reigning champions, Edo Queens in Benin City.
The scenerio showed that there are many things to play for on both sides in Wednesday’s showdown. Abia Angels are fighting to once again steady the ship of their first ever Super Six dreams that appears to be gradually slipping off their hands while the Owerri landladies, perhaps outright outsiders for the season’s premium, have a huge pride at stake to salvage, at least, to ensure they leave the ongoing season’s stage on high and strongly, too.
Ogbala has his unleashing tools well oiled, and would still fall back to the time tested regulars to execute the daunting task especially the high performers of late in the past two matches.
The matchup is a derby, and is surely going to live up to the bookmakers expectations and predictions that the bench could all alone singlehandedly decide the match.
The Owerri side are sixth on the eight-team group’s log on eight points against the homers’ fourth place and 16 points, the Owerri mainstreams are 18 points adrift the champions and leaders, Edo Queens.
