It was a lively Matchday 3 evening in Ibadan as Rivers Angels edged Pacesetter Queens 2–1, ending the home side’s hopes of a first win at the Adamasingba Stadium. Pacesetter Queens drew first blood very early, with Grace Saliu netting in the 2nd minute to give the hosts an unexpected lead.
But Rivers Angels responded and before the half-hour mark, Teslimot Balogun levelled the score in the 28th minute. The momentum then tilted further in favour of the visitors, when Ramotalahi Kareem struck in the 40th minute to put Rivers Angels ahead a lead they held to full time.
The result confirmed the trend of away teams doing well on Matchday 3 with Rivers Angels among the clubs to claim victory on the road.
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Editorial
There are nights when ambition and resolve travel while home advantage sleeps and Wednesday in Ibadan was exactly that. Rivers Angels demonstrated what away wins are built on composure under pressure, belief after conceding, and the ruthless bite when the chance arrives. That early blow a 2′ strike would have rattled lesser sides. Not this one.
To overturn a goal inside half an hour requires more than tactical adjustment it demands character. Rivers showed it. Balogun’s equaliser, then Kareem’s lead-giving finish: they were not merely goals, but statements. For Pacesetter Queens, the early lead was a cruel mirage. Hopes climbed high only to crash by halftime; confidence gave way to anxiety, structure to desperation.
This sort of result matters. It tells the league that even “smaller” clubs those without the weight of legacy or media attention can be defined not by where they play, but by how they play. Rivers Angels may travel far from home this season, but the greater distance might just be inside the heads of those who think home turf guarantees victory. Tonight proved otherwise.
For Nigerian women’s football still in a phase of growth, identity and redistribution of power consistency and courage on the road may be the quiet revolution that reshapes hierarchies. On this night, Rivers led the charge.
Did You Know?
- Across Matchday 3 of the current season, away teams won five out of six matches, underlining a surprising pattern of road-game dominance.
- The scoring sequence in the Ibadan match happened very early and very late in the first half 2′, 28′, 40′ meaning the game was decided before many casual fans might normally settle in.
- Grace Saliu, the early scorer for Pacesetter Queens, has been one of the most prolific attackers for her side this season — a bright spot even in defeat.
- Rivers Angels have a rich history of bouncing back from early setbacks on several occasions last season they overturned first-half deficits to win, showcasing mental resilience.
- For Pacesetter Queens, this was their first home defeat after a promising start a stark reminder that home support alone cannot mask tactical errors or defensive lapses.
