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2024 President Federation Cup Final: Rivers Angels vs Naija Ratels Preview
By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
Eight-time champions Rivers Angels will face fellow Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Premiership side Naija Ratels in the final of the 2024 President Federation Cup.
The Jewels of Rivers boast a storied history in the competition, having won eight titles and reached the final four additional times.
Their remarkable consecutive victories from 2010 to 2014 were interrupted by Sunshine Queens in 2015. However, Rivers Angels bounced back with three straight wins in 2016, 2017, and 2018, with their last final victory occurring in 2018.
After narrowly losing to Bayelsa Queens in last year’s final, Ogbonna Whyte’s side is determined to secure a win this time.
The Abuja-based Naija Ratels are making their first appearance in the final of the President Federation Cup and aim to become the first team from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to win the title in 24 years.
The last team from Abuja to claim the title was FCT Queens in 2000. Bankole Olowookere, who also coaches Nigeria’s U-17 girls’ team, has guided the Flamingos to a bronze medal at the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup and recently qualified the team for this year’s World Cup.
Olowookere’s experience and success could be pivotal for Naija Ratels in this historic final. This will be the first meeting between Rivers Angels and Naija Ratels in the Cup final, but they are well-acquainted from their league encounters.
Rivers Angels have won the last three head-to-head matches by narrow margins. At the 2022 NWFL Premiership Super Six in Benin City, a brace from Chiamaka Okwuchukwu secured a 2-0 victory for the Port Harcourt-based side.
In the 2022/2023 season, Juanita Aguadze’s goal led Rivers Angels to a 1-0 win in Port Harcourt, and the return leg in Abuja also ended 1-0, with Adaobi Okah (now with Remo Stars Ladies) scoring the decisive goal.
These recent meetings suggest a closely contested final on Saturday at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos. A win for Rivers Angels would mark Whyte’s first major title as head coach, following back-to-back final losses with Ibom Angels in 2017 and 2018.
Victory for Naija Ratels would make them the first team in recent President Federation Cup history to win the title in their first attempt. Previous finalists, including FCT Queens, Bayelsa Queens, Delta Queens, and Sunshine Queens, failed to secure the title on their first try.
While the odds favor Rivers Angels, the unpredictability of football ensures that the final promises to be an exciting and competitive match.
