We need more games for girls, states Fedelia Angeles.

Fedelia Nyiekaa Angeles, also known as Omoghan, led the Nigeria Women's 7s team, called the Lady Stallions, at the 13th African Games in Ghana. The event happened from the 19th to the 21st of March 2024. It was their first time playing against other countries in 15 years.

The team:

Iyoha Success, Becky Okitikpe, Perpetua Mmanma,Blessing Umude, Augustar Efe Chinaza Abbah, Akinade Rukayat, Aladeyelu Blessing, Akhihiero Pedro Vera Precious Felix, Fedelia Omoghan (Captain), Glory Ezeude, Ada Okonkwo, Achele Agada, Roseline Okpara

Rugby Journey:

I started playing rugby at St John Henry Newman Secondary School. Then, I moved to York University, where I led the rugby team as captain.

Recently, I won the 2024 Female Club Player of the Year for Rugby Ontario, playing for Scarborough RFC. This year, I also played 7s for Nigeria. I've been in rugby union games for 15 years.

How do you balance playing rugby and looking after your family?

It is tough but I have a lot of support from my husband, my mom, and my sisters. They always help me with the children when I need to train or travel. Although my kids are too young to accompany me on my rugby journey, i hope that in the future, they will be able to cheer me from the sidelines as i continue to pursue my passion for the sport.

Playing 7s rugby at the African Games:

Playing 7s rugby at the African Games was a top moment for me. I've played at the top level in lots of contests, but this felt unique. For the first time in 15 years, the Nigerian women's team got to play. We had much to learn as a team, yet we joined forces and gave it our all. Even if we didn't win as we hoped, it marked the beginning of something big. The heat in Ghana was very high, but we loved the music, tasty food, and meeting other sports folk.

Your expectations of the tournament as a captain:

I didn't think the contest would be easy since we were to face teams like Uganda, Tunisia, Madagascar and Ghana that play in big games both here and abroad. A lot of us came from outside Nigeria, so we didn't all know what to expect from 7s rugby. But, that didn't make me worry. I had faith in our team and was sure we'd put on a great show. I wanted us to prove that Nigerian women’s rugby was strong and that we can hold our own against the best in Africa.

Best moment at the games:

Watching Nigeria women's team play 7s rugby was a joy. They scored tries against teams like Uganda, who took gold, showing great skill. We put up a tough fight and were strong. Losing to Ghana in the last moments hurt, especially because we're big rivals in sports, but it didn't make us lose hope. We had another 7s match against Uganda. Before this game, we looked at what we did well and what needed work. We had fast players who scored tries. We scored first in this match. We knew it would be hard. We lost but still showed a lot of heart.

Key take away from the African games:

The African games were amazing. They set it up well with good safety. They had a nice rugby field that was good to play on. Playing in these games taught us a lot because it was our first time playing 7s. It's a quicker form of rugby, so every moment is key. We need to spend more time together as a team to train and improve our rugby skills so we're better prepared for more international games.

Your opinion on the future of women's rugby in Nigeria:

The future shines for women's rugby. With more people learning about the game in schools and our areas, the game will grow. As the nation's team, we need more time together to bond and know each other's strong and weak points to improve at big games. We have top sports people in Nigeria, we just need to play more and face more teams. Having regional competitions could be a starting point.

How best can women's rugby in Africa be supported?

We need more local rugby. More lessons from the Rugby Africa team will help countries train more coaches. These coaches can then teach the people in the areas. This means teams can play by the rules better in matches. We could have games between nearby countries, letting Nigerians get better for big matches. Getting girls to play rugby in primary and secondary school means when they leave, they're ready for the national team with top skills. Starting rugby clubs in different parts of Nigeria is also a great way to keep areas active in the sport. The more players we have, the more sponsors will come. Having good leaders at the rugby union is important for growing women's rugby. Last, making the media care about rugby helps cover women's rugby in Africa. Strong ties with the media across the continent are important.

Support from the rugby union:

The message that Nigeria was one of the women's teams at the African games was clear: our union backs women's rugby. Together with Rugby Africa, we are working to get Nigeria more play time by adding us to continental contests. We face money issues and need more backers. With more play time and media spotlights, we can draw more backers, which will help grow women's rugby in Nigeria.

Final remarks on Nigeria rugby.

Women's rugby in Nigeria is making a comeback, and it's here to stay. We're aiming high, and with help from the government, Rugby Africa, World Rugby, and various businesses, we can tap into the vast talent in Nigeria.