Tosan Blankson Downplays Derby Talk Ahead of Rivers Angels vs Ibom Angels Clash

Rivers Angels head coach Tosan Blankson has brushed aside derby sentiments ahead of his side’s Nigeria Women’s Football League (NWFL) Matchday 4 encounter against Ibom Angels, stressing that preparation—not rivalry—will determine the outcome.

The first South-South derby of the season will take place on Wednesday at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt, with kickoff scheduled for 4pm. The Jewels of Rivers will host Ibom Angels in what promises to be a keenly contested fixture.

Blankson acknowledged the challenge posed by every opponent but insisted his team’s focus remains unchanged.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s South-South or South-West or South-East. A match is a match. All I know is that a team is coming from Uyo to play against us, and we are prepared for them,” he said.

The Rivers Angels boss expressed confidence in his squad’s form heading into the midweek clash.

“Every match is always tough, but with the way the girls are playing, we would definitely win on Wednesday.”

Reflecting on their most recent outing against Pacesetter Queens in Ibadan, Blankson noted positives despite missed chances.

“I want to thank God that they are creating chances. If they were not creating chances, it would have been a different thing. They are creating chances; it’s just to convert them now.

“We’ve been working on that in training since we came back, and we will keep working.”

Blankson also urged fans in Rivers State to turn out in their numbers to support the team, promising a strong home performance.

“They should come and support us the way they have been doing. What I can assure them is that we will beat the Angels, but I don’t know the scoreline yet.”

Rivers Angels head into the fixture with a solid recent record against Ibom Angels, having won both league meetings last season—2–1 at home and 1–0 away in Uyo.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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