Wednesday 10 November 2021

CAFWCL: Rivers Angels in stormy waters as Mamelodi Sundown close in on a semi-final berth


It's been stormy so far for Nigeria's Champion, Rivers Angels at the ongoing CAF Women Champions League in Cairo after the team suffered a 1-0 loss to Mamelodi Sundowns on Tuesday, (9 November 2021) evening.   

Rivers Angels will blame their loss on dodgy officiating as two penalty shouts were denied by the referee early on in the match.   


The team ran out of luck in the 17th minute through a controversial goal by Zanele Portia Nhlapho, which proved to be the game’s lone goal that decided the match.

The centre referee judged the whole part of the ball to have crossed the goal line when the striker's shot rocked the post and bounced on the line but was palmed out by the Rivers Angel goalkeeper, Adjei Charlotte.   

The controversial goal put Sundowns on top of group B with six points.

The South African champion needs just to avoid defeat in their match to qualify for the semi-finals.

The second loss in three days condemned the Nigeria team to the bottom of group B after the conclusion of matchday two with zero points, and zero goals, with a minus-four goals deficit.

The Angels of the rivers will have to swim swiftly against the tides in the stormy waters and win their last game against Vihiga Queens of Kenya with as many as four goals. 

Furthermore, Mamelodi Sundowns need to do them a favour by defeating AS FAR of Morrocco on Friday by 4 pm (13 November 2021), before they could qualify from the group to join Mamelodi Sundowns in the semis.  


A look at the standings after matchday two, AS FAR, Vihiga are tied on 3 points, but Vihiga leads on the superior head to head and they need to defeat Rivers Angels to be guaranteed a place in the semi-final. 

This is the precarious situation Rivers Angles find themselves in, of which they need monumental transformation to stay afloat after matchday three on Friday.

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