Ibom Angels Publish Investigation Findings, Apologise to Bayelsa Queens, NWFL Over Matchday 5 Crowd Trouble
Ibom Angels Football Club have announced the outcome of their investigation into the crowd trouble that followed their Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) matchday five fixture against Bayelsa Queens in Uyo.
In a statement released on Friday, January 23, 2026, the club said the internal fact-finding committee, set up after the January 7, 2026 encounter, has concluded its work and submitted a detailed report.
Confirming that the incident happened after the final whistle, Ibom Angels said there was no pitch invasion during active play. “There was no in-match encroachment. The videos in circulation relate to incidents that occurred after the referee had blown the final whistle,” the club stated.
On the cause of the unrest, the club disclosed that one supporter was identified as a major instigator. “We have identified a certain Mr Kingsley Loveday who showed excessive aggression after the match and whose actions may have encouraged others to take part in the melee,” the statement said.
Ibom Angels also admitted that some of their players failed to follow instructions from officials. “We identified some of our own players who disobeyed direct orders from management staff to exercise restraint and ended up meddling in the unsportsmanlike incident,” the club added.
The report further claimed that the situation escalated after a controversial disallowed goal. “Following the disallowed goal, Bayelsa Queens goalkeeper Linda Chikamso punched our defender, Angela Okechi, below the eye as she attempted to retrieve the ball,” the club alleged, adding that the defender sustained injuries.
The club said the referee’s actions contributed to the tension. “The decision to initially award the goal and later overrule it without further consultation is strange and confusing, especially in a league without VAR,” the statement noted.
Announcing sanctions, Ibom Angels said, “We hereby place an irrevocable one-year ban on Mr Kingsley Loveday from all our matches and activities with effect from January 21, 2026.” The club also confirmed that two players were suspended for two months.
Offering an apology, the club said the incident did not reflect its values. “Ours is a club founded on love, peace, unity and sportsmanship. We regret the incident and find it embarrassing and a misrepresentation of what we stand for,” the statement read.
Ibom Angels apologised to Bayelsa Queens and the NWFL, saying, “We apologise to the players and officials of Bayelsa Queens, the people of Bayelsa State and the NWFL for the negative image this incident may have created.”
The club also pledged improved security going forward. “We commit to working with the state FA to strengthen matchday security and prevent a recurrence of such incidents,” the statement concluded.
Meanwhile, Ibom Angels continued their NWFL campaign on Wednesday, 21 January 2026, securing a 2–1 victory against Ekiti Queens in a match played behind closed doors.
