Copa Coca-Cola Owerri Previews: Rivers seek consolidation

ABIA vs EBONYI

Both teams will step out knowing that a win for either side will turn their fortune around after mixed results in the first game. Abia were held to a draw by Anambra while Ebonyi were taught the game by rampant Rivers but another draw on Wednesday could end their ambition of picking the sole ticket even before the third games are decided.

Abia’s Ibeku High School boast of young energetic players and they will not find it easy to penetrate through wounded Ebonyi’s Community Secondary School, Ndaburu, Ebenyi who will also like to win the game to reawaken their faint dream of booking the only ticket to Lagos.

Pressure will no doubt be on Ebonyi who lost their first match but they know they must come out fighting and ready for the mind games if they are to dislodge their Wednesday foes.

Abia will still rely on Chijioke Amanjoh and others to get the goals that will while Ebonyi will pray that the injury sustained by their goalkeeper is not a serious one that will prevent him from not being available. He saved some shots that were destined for net against Rivers and it will be a blow for them if he is unable to recover to face the Abians.
 

RIVERS vs  ANAMBRA

This will no doubt be a gritty affair at the Owerri City College on Wednesday with both Holy Name Secondary School, Umuchu, Anambra and Community Secondary School, Amadi Ama (Rivers) the arguably the best teams of the Owerri centre. They were impressive in their opening match against Ibeku High School (Abia) and Community Secondary School, Amadi Ama (Rivers) respectively and both must maintain same level of consistency to achieve their desired result.

Rivers are on paper heavily tipped to pick another win that will draw them nearer to securing the sole ticket to Lagos against Anambra’s representatives. They play as a unit and they have enough experience to cope with whatever their Wednesday opponents throw at them.  The way and manner in which they retain possession and split open defenses are among the reasons they are the odds on favourites to pick the sole ticket.

Anambra won’t just lie down and expect them to be run over by Rivers. They must be ready to fight and also take a cue from the way Abia played against them with all they hand that they must prove a point.