Female FA Cup: Rivers, Bayelsa, FCT look good

In Yenagoa, Rivers Angels will be up against Solid Babes of Nasarawa State in a match that will be explosive in its own way.

Many people may not reckon with the girls from Lafia but with the financial might of Governor Abdulahi Adamu, Solid babes will be out to prove their qualification for the Super six at first attempt was no fluke.

Captain Judith who will run things in midfield is also an experienced ball player who will be able to commandeer her troops to ward off whatever challenges the Port Harcourt Angels have in stock.

Rivers Angels unleash Mbachu, Nwadike on Solid babes

In the Port Harcourt side, fans will see the return of two Super Falcons players to the Nigerian scene after a six-month stint in China with the Tianjin Women Club.

Stella Mbachu and Rita Nwadike returned to the country on Monday and immediately joined their former teammates in Port Harcourt ahead of the clash with Solid Babes.

“Rita and Stella are in good form,” a player with the side told nigeriasports.com.

“I’m sure we will do with their wealth of experience.”

In Ibadan, Bayelsa Queens of Yenagoa will square up against Remi babes of Ogun State.

Bayelsa Queens will have the full complement of Faith Ikidi and Sabi Akudo, two Super Falcons players fresh from the Olympic games and the African Women Championships in the encounter against the relatively unknown girls from the Gateway State.

In Makurdi, it will be FCT Queens of Abuja against Inneh Queens of Benin.

FCT Queens have arguably the best side in the country today but have also been the most under achieving side.

Last year at the Super Six, FCT Queens technically won the league but lost all their points in the boardroom.

This season they have been buoyed with the presence of Cynthia Uwak who can single handedly destroy any defence in the world, defensive midfielder, Edith Eduviere and defender Lawrenta Sogoe.

In Inneh Queens is a troubled side that lost more than three quarters of their team at the start of the season and had to make a fresh start.

Captain Otasowe Esomoghene may have to fall back on her wealth of experience to inspire the younger players in the team while burly attacker, Grace Kure the one they call maama will be intimidating upfront.

Perhaps the star game of the quarterfinals will be in Kaduna between two likely winners of the cup, Delta Queens of Asaba and Pelican Stars of Calabar in what can be regarded as the battle of the Falcons.

In Delta Queens will be Precious Dede, Lizzy Johnson, Felicia Eze, Ayi Yusuf, Semola Akinlose, Bunmi Kayode, Ijoema Obi, Nkechi Egbe, Vera Okolo and recent sensation, Maureen Eke, while Pelican Stars will feature the likes of Oge Onyinanya, Nkiru Okwara, Ifeanyi Chiejine, Cele Onyeka, Effioanwan Ekpo, Yinka Kudaisi, Rachel Asabor, Julie Ekwerike, Ajuma Ameh and Sherri Saidu.

Ekwerike, Oluchi Ogbonna, Ebere, Ifeanyi Chiejine and Ajuma Ameh (below)

Who ever wins this match will likely end up eventual winners of the cup and also reduce the strength of the semi final line up, robbing the competition of one of the best sides in the country.