Nigeria Women Premier League Week Two Preview: Rivers Angels ambush Ibom Angels, Confluence Queens and Nasarawa Amazons meet in top-liner

After a first week of surprising results, the Nigeria Women Premier League (NWPL) returns to bring several exciting match up.

The saying goes that where you lie after the first round of matches is usually where you will end up in the table, right? That said, there are several appetizing match ups this midweek for fans to salivate over.

If you are new to the league -- this is par for the course. Here's a quick look at several games scheduled to take place on Wednesday 5th April.

Ibom Angels Vs Rivers Angels

Ibom Angels narrowly lost 2-1 in the opening match of the season to Sunshine Queens and coach Whyte Ogbonda knows the importance of this cracker. He comes against a Rivers Angels team that is filled with stars. Home matches will be important to any team more so for Ogbonda who has a point to prove against his former boss Edwin Okon.

Defending champions Rivers Angels have recruited heavily. They are the overwhelming favourites in the match of the week. Okon will be relying on Rafiat Sule, Evelyn Nwabuoku, Patience Kalu, Alice Ogebe, Amarachi Ojinma for inspiration. This should be a salivating encounter. It will be a spectacle in Uyo.

Abia Angels Vs Heartland Queens

If Abia Angels, who drew their opening game against FC Robo Queens are to get three points in this match, they have no option but to give more than 100%. Debutants Heartland Queens looked formidable in their warm up fixtures and with the quality in their side, coach Moses Adikwu knows that this is a perfect opportunity to lay a mark and send a warning to the rest of the teams in the division.

FC Robo Queens Vs Bayelsa Queens

It doesn't get any easier for FC Robo Queens and if anything it's only got a whole load harder when Bayelsa Queens come to Lagos. Robo forced Abia Angels to a 1-1 draw, while Bayelsa were drawn bye. FC Robo Queens put in a valiant performance against Abia Angels and will look to carry that in to this game but it won't be easy as they face a Bayelsa Queens side filled with stars. Ajibade Rasheedat will be the main suspect to score and lead the home side to victory. As for Bayelsa Queens, life without the quartet of Rafiat Sule, Blessing Edoho, Lilian Cole and Patience Kalu will be extremely difficult. But they have experience of Esther Udegbe, Ifenkoh Charity, Aminat Yakubu and Joy Bokiri to lean on.

Confluence Queens Vs Nasarawa Amazons

The game will provide a better look into Confluence Queens' credentials. After a surprising 0-0 draw at Delta Queens, the New Direction Queens sit fourth in the Group B table. The match against Delta will likely give them more confidence going into this tie. They'll have to face the second best team in the league. Nasarawa Amazons are coming off their 2-0 win over Osun Babes. Coach Christopher Danjuma will likely field a similar side to that team that took to the field last week, while Confluence Queens head coach Maja Nayashi should do the same, although Abibat Agbaji might have earned a spot in attack. After a feel-good week one, it will be a litmus test for the Lokoja based side when they they welcome highly fancied Nasarawa Amazons to the Confluence Stadium.

Osun Babes Vs Pelican Stars

Pelican Stars won their first game of the season at home to an impressive Saadatu Amazon side and coach Sanusi Muritala can use this outing as a motivating factor ahead of the visit to Oshogbo. They seems to have recruited well with a number of youngsters also being incorporated into the side. The Calabar outfit must however be wary of Esther Anthony. The striker isn't just lethal on a good day but she will fancy scoring in order to kick-start her goal diary.

Edo Queens Vs Delta Queens

At the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, two clubs Edo Queens and Delta Queens are geared towards securing their maiden victory of the season when they face each other. Nkem Uwandi and Uche Ndefo are two players expected to lift the home team who drew at Adamawa Queens. Delta Queens forward Maryann Ezenagu shone in the stalemate with Confluence Queens and she will be afforded the opportunity to do so again but Emueje Ogbiagbevha and Rosemary Okezie have to be watched too. The experienced heads of Joy Jegede and Maureen Godwin will be called upon to try salvage anything they can from the match.

Saadatu Amazon Vs Adamawa Queens

Don't knock this game based on unknown names alone. These two teams showed fighting spirit last week. A winner should surely emerge in Minna. That alone should provide each side with enough impetus to want to win. Of course, each team could also be scared, and sit back and try to protect their goal like a bear protects her cubs. Still, these two should provide for an exciting match. Neither team has the number of star names like Rivers Angels, Nasarawa Amazons, Delta Queens or Bayelsa Queens. So the quality of the match might suffer -- but that does not mean the game will lack the drama. The games are scheduled for 4pm on Wednesday.

Nigeria Women Premier League :

Week Two Fixtures

Group A

FC Robo Queens Vs Bayelsa Queens
Ibom Angels Vs Rivers Angels
Abia Angels Vs Heartland Queens

Group B
Osun Babes Vs Pelican Stars
Confluence Queens Vs Nasarawa Amazons
Saadatu Amazon Vs Adamawa Queens
Edo Queens Vs Delta Queens