Rivers Angels coach – Edwin Okon has expressed his displeasure following his team’s failure to pick up three points against Royal Queens of Warri on Wednesday, claiming the ladies need to wake up and fight.

The coach told Footballrover that none of his players are under pressure, but they need encouragement to carry out the necessary tasks.

This was shortly after the second round match between Rivers Angels and Royal Queens in the Nigeria Women Premiership Football League ended in a 1-1 draw.

🇳🇬#NWFLPremiership returned with a bang 🔥🔥

Here's results of today's matches👇

Still to come!
📆Friday, 10 February, 2023
Confluence Queens vs Ibom Angels – Lokoja Confluence Stadium 🏟️#NWFL23| #NWFLPremiership| pic.twitter.com/VO4c8ijEJS

— NWFL (@TheNWFL) February 8, 2023

Rivers Angels welcomed the Royal Queens of Warri at the University of Port Harcourt Sports Complex, and the visitors later denied them victory in the closing minutes of the match.

In the last match of the first round at the Sapele Township Stadium, the Kingsley Ovie side held the Jewel of Rivers to a scoreless draw, however the team still managed to earn a point in the rematch in Port Harcourt.

Just 34 minutes into the match, a Royal Queens player handles the ball within the penalty area, forcing the referee to award a penalty to the home side.

Aguadze Juanita stepped up and coolly converted the spot kick to hand the new vision Queens the lead.

Only for Obadun Azezat to score the equalizer for the guests in stoppage time to salvage a 1-1 draw for the visiting Queens.

FT

Rivers Angels 1-1 Royal Queens#TheJewelOfRivers#NewVisionQueens

— Rivers Angels FC (@Rivers_Angels) February 8, 2023

Coach Edwin Okon reacted on the visitors’ late-game equalizer following the free kick they were given when it was obvious that a Royal Queens player had stomped on the ball.

“I don’t have to question the referees, but that wasn’t a free kick at all, she obviously stepped on the ball. The Referee made her decision and we can’t change it.” – he said.

When questioned if his team’s performance is being hampered by pressure to perform well and top the abridged NWFL Group A standings, the coach responded;

“They are not playing under pressure at all. None of my ladies are under pressure. I should be the one under pressure, but I can not transfer the pressure to them. Its just to encourage them to do what is needed.”

The Rivers Angels coach provided additional insight into the next steps after his team dropped two points to the Warri Queens by saying;

“We just have to wake them up, you can’t fight with your tools. All we need is little time and we just have to encourage them.”

With the 1-1 scoreline, Rivers Angels now have 10 points, which puts them in third place on the log, and seven points behind leaders – Delta Queens.

📃Table after Wednesday's ties 🔥

Where is your favourite team?? 😉#NWFL23| #NWFLPremiership| pic.twitter.com/mEmC7SucC8

— NWFL (@TheNWFL) February 8, 2023

𝑳𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒕? 𝑷𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒆 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒂 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒐𝒙!