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Tag: Rivers United

  • Rivers United remain only Nigerian club in CAF Top 30

    Rivers United remain only Nigerian club in CAF Top 30

    Rivers United are the only Nigerian club side ranked in the top 30 in the latest CAF Club rankings.

    The CAF Five-Year Rankings were updated after the quarter-finals of the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup.

    Rivers United are ranked 24th best team in Africa with accumulated 14 points during the period while Ah Ahly maintained their dominance as the best team in Africa with 78 points.

    Read Also: NPFL: Advantage Remo Stars as Rivers United stumble in Yenagoa

    Mamelodi Sundowns are second in Africa with 57 points. The South African side are through to the semi final of the CAF Champions League and will confront Al Ahly of Egypt in the last four with the resolve to close up the ranking points.

    Esperance of Tunisia are joint second with 57 points while Simba (Tanzania) and Zamalek (Egypt) complete the top five with 43 points and 42 points in that order.

    ASEC Mimosas of Cote d’Ivoire are the best West African team in 12th spot with 33 points followed by Rivers United in the 24th spot. Ghanaian’s Dream FC, Stade Malien (Mali), and Horoya SC (Guinea) are in the 26th, 27th and 28th spots.

  • Rivers United deserve victory over Remo Stars, says Finidi

    Rivers United deserve victory over Remo Stars, says Finidi

    Rivers United technical adviser, Finidi George, has disclosed that the Pride of Rivers 1-0 victory over league leaders Remo Stars is well-deserved.

    The Port Harcourt-based club reduced the gap between them and the league leaders to five points following the win.

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    Finidi admitted that the encounter was difficult and he thumbed up the resilience of his players who never gave up until they got the lone goal.

    “It was a difficult game considering the opposition, Remo Stars,” Finidi stated in a post-match interview. “I think they played differently in the game. We had two chances which we didn’t take in the first half, but overall, I think we deserved to win the game.

    “I think we deserved to win the game,” he said.

  • NPFL: Advantage Remo Stars as Rivers United stumble in Yenagoa

    NPFL: Advantage Remo Stars as Rivers United stumble in Yenagoa

    Remo Stars will be the bigger beneficiaries if they beat Enyimba today at home in the continuation of the Nigeria Premier Football League Matchday 31 fixtures slated for Ikenne after  Bayelsa Unites edged  Rivers United 1-0 in Yenagoa

    The Pride of Rivers that are second on the log with 52 points were expected to secure a positive result against the Prosperity Boys yesterday to cut the gap on Remo Stars but they fell to the 19th  minute goal of Kehinde Malik.

    The Sky Blue Stars who hosts the Peoples Elephant today will go eight points clear even with a game at hand if they scoop the maximum points. A defeat in Ikenne may also put an end to the People’s Elephant’s continental chase through the league as they are currently ninth with 43 points.

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    In other games, Sunshine Stars failed to dislodge a determined Heartland in a battle between two relegation-haunted teams. The game ended goalless at the Otunba Dipo Dina Stadium in Ijebu Ode.

    In Kano, Kano Pillars could not break through Bendel Insurance who got a goalless draw at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano. Insurance are in seventh spot with 45 points while Pillars are next in eighth spot with 44 points ahead of their visit to Owerri as guests of Heartland next weekend.

    While in Umuahia, Abia Warriors moved four points clear of fourth-placed Shooting Stars who play El Kanemi Warriors in Maiduguri today, with a 2-0 home win over Lobi Stars. Sunday Megwo and Antoine Ijoma goals in the 24th  and 90th  minutes did the magic as his restored them to the third spot with 50 points. They are only two points off second placed Rivers United.

    In Ilorin, Kwara United returned to winning ways after the loss to Akwa United last weekend with a laboured 1-0 victory over Nasarawa United.

    Abayomi Lawal’s goal in the 64th  minute was enough for the three points. They are now 10th on the log with 42 points while the Solid Miners are in 16th spot with 36 points.

    In the remaining fixtures, Rangers will trade tackles with Plateau United in Enugu while El Kanemi Warriors will face Shooting Stars.

    Akwa United will host Niger Tornadoes in Uyo also with Ikorodu City versus Katsina United put on hold.

  • NPFL: Rivers United primed to stop  Ikorodu City’s continental quest

    NPFL: Rivers United primed to stop  Ikorodu City’s continental quest

    Rivers United versus Ikorodu City top the Nigeria Premier Football League Matchday 30 fixtures since  it is a tie between  second and fourth teams in the topflight who are only separated by four points.

    Elsewhere, Heartland will also face Abia Warriors in another Oriental derby they cannot afford to drop any point lest they  drop  into the  relegation zone for real having gone five games without a win.

    NPFL Matchday 30 began with a Friday night fixture between Nasarawa United and Rangers in Lafia.

    Today, Plateau United will attempt to leave the relegation zone for good despite being docked three points for infraction after their home draw with Rangers in the first stanza. They will trade tackles with Kano Pillars in Jos. They are presently 15th  with 35 points and another win will see them move to more comfortable place on the log.

    Sai Masu Gida have been blowing hot and cold at the same time despite having Shehu Abdullahi and Ahmed Musa in their rank to complement the work of Rabiu Ali and others. They are seventh with 43 points but could crash into the top five or even higher if they pick up a win in Jos.

    In another game billed for today, Bendel Insurance will face Sunshine Stars. Insurance are ninth on the log with 41 points and are more or less save from the drop zone battle but Sunshine Stars cannot say the same after they could only get a draw in their last home game with Plateau United in Ikenne.

    Tomorrow, Heartland  will welcome Abia Warriors to Owerri in their fifth Oriental derby game of the season played against Enyimba and Rangers also. The Naze Millionaires have managed to win just one of the four fixtures drawn two and losing one. They cannot afford to lose any points against Umuchineke Boys considering their precarious position on the log. They are 16th  with 33 points and are only separated by two points between them and the 19th  spot occupied by Akwa United.

    Abia Warriors are fifth on the table with 44 points and are untroubled by relegation talks. An unlikely win in Owerri may put them in the continental spot mix but it may hurt Heartland Technical Manager, Emmanuel Amuneke badly.

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    Enyimba will be at home again tomorrow as they welcome Bayelsa United to Aba. They were within a minute of securing the maximum points in Lagos before they were pegged back by Ikorodu City’s Ayomide Cole’s stoppage time equaliser. The People’s Elephant are eighth on the log with 42 points and are in dire need of the three points to see if they can move to the top five.

    The fixture of the weekend will see Rivers United host Ikorodu City who defeated them 2-0 in the first stanza. It was the game that ended their unbeaten start to the season. The Pride of Rivers are now comfortable in second spot with 49 points but a home win against the Oga Boys may jeopardize the visitors top three hopes with just eight games to the end of the season.

    Katsina United will have another chance to play before their fans at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium after their disappointing late loss to Niger Tornadoes in Lafia. The Chanji Boys are 14th  with 36 points and will come up against El Kanemi Warriors who lost their home invincibility to Rivers United last weekend.

    In Ilorin, Kwara United will hope to regain some lost pride when they host relegation haunted Akwa United. The Harmony Boys were mercilessly devoured in Enugu by Rangers last weekend and a good home win will compensate for the 3-0 whiplash.

    In Ibadan, Shooting Stars must put issues relating to their disqualification from the President Federation Cup aside and strive to end their winless streak in the league. They will face Niger Tornadoes in a 5:30pm kick off tie tomorrow and they are under must to return to winning ways.

    The supposed last fixture of the weekend between Lobi Stars and Remo Stars have been postponed at the behest of the Sky Blue Stars who allegedly wrote to the NPFL seeking a new date for the tie with two of their goalkeepers, Kayode Bankole and Serge Obassa on international duties for Nigeria and Benin Republic.

  • NPFL: Rivers United close gap on leaders Remo Stars

    NPFL: Rivers United close gap on leaders Remo Stars

    Rivers United are now eight points adrift of Remo Stars after they pipped Niger Tornadoes 1-0, while the NPFL leaders fell 2-1 at Bendel Insurance.

    Rivers United have 46 points from 28 games, while Remo Stars are on 54 points.

    Match winner today for Rivers United was Samson Obi, who hit target in the 83rd minute.

    Insurance climbed to seventh position in the standings on the back of a 2-1 home win over Remo Stars.

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    They now have 41 points.

    In yesterday’s third game, Lobi Stars started life in their third home ground this season on a losing note when they fell to Ikorodu City courtesy of a late Shola Adelani strike in Enugu. It was their 14th loss of the season.

    They are rooted to the basement of the table with 23 points, eight points from safety. Ikorodu City shot to third on the table with 44 points.

  • Tornadoes turn sight on  Rivers United  after loss to Enyimba

    Tornadoes turn sight on  Rivers United  after loss to Enyimba

    Following their painful  home loss to Enyimba, Niger Tornadoes head coach, Majin Mohammed said the Ikon Allah Boys have shifted  their preparation for  next NPFL encounter with Rivers United in Port Harcourt.

    The Ikon Allah Boys suffered a narrow  home loss to Enyimba FC at the Lafia City Stadium through Joseph Atule’s 62nd  minute effort.

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    Majin, disclosed that his wards inability to convert the chances that came their way denied them the maximum points  against the People’s Elephant but that they must now head home and prepare for Rivers United.

    “We had the best part of the game in the first half, we couldn’t take our chances and capitalized it,” Majin told journalists. “In the second half, we thought we would approach the game the same way; unfortunately, it doesn’t work like that. Enyimba capitalized on the only chance they had.

    “Rivers United came to Lafia and got their three points, we can also go there and get our three points.”

    Tornadoes are in 11th spot with 37 points. 

  • NPFL: War as Enyimba, Rivers United clash  in Aba

    NPFL: War as Enyimba, Rivers United clash  in Aba

    Rivers United‘s visit to Aba as guests of Enyimba is  doubtedly  the headline fixture for the Nigeria Premier Football League Matchday 24 fixtures  this weekend with Remo Stars’ tango with reigning champions, Rangers International in Enugu.

    Seven games will be played today while the remaining three hold tomorrow.

    In Aba, Enyimba will be seeking their third win from 11 games when they trade tackles with Finidi George inspired Rivers United today at the Enyimba International Stadium. The Pride of Rivers edged the People’s Elephant when the first leg was played in Port Harcourt but they must avoid a defeat to boost their fading league title aspirations.

    Rivers United have dropped to the third spot with 38 points but Enyimba’s 11th  spot with 31 points after they have played all their outstanding games is more than underwhelming. The game will also pitched Stanley Eguma against his former employers.

    In Kano, Kano Pillars will hope to record their second consecutive win following their 2-1 midweek victory over El-Kanemi Warriors when they host in-form Abia Warriors today at the Sani Abacha Stadium. Sai Masu Gida are ninth with 32 points and will need a home win to take them further up the league’s ladder against stubborn Umuchineke Boys who are fourth with 36 points.

    Read Also: NSC, NFF meet  on  proposed  Abuja hotel, training pitch site

    Kwara United ended the eight game unbeaten run of Shooting Stars in Ilorin on Wednesday. They will have the honours of hosting Bayelsa United at the George Innih Stadium, Ilorin today. The Harmony Boys may gradually crack the top four in no time if they secure the maximum points against the Prosperity Boys. They are currently eighth with 32 points.

    In Bauchi, Lobi Stars will seek to move on from their 1-0 home loss to Enyimba when they lock horns with Katsina United at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium today. The Pride of Benue are last on the log and anything other than a home win won’t be acceptable.

    Plateau United will host El Kanemi Warriors in Jos in a game Mbwas Mangut must win to keep his job. He has three game ultimatum dangling around his neck which enters second game today. He drew in Kaduna to Niger Tornadoes to keep his hope of keeping his job alive.

    Can Nasarawa United secure a league double against Ikorodu City just like Rangers International did in the last weekend game? The Solid Miners must heed that call when the Oga Boys come calling at the Lafia City Stadium.

    In the last game billed for today, Sunshine Stars will face Akwa United in a relegation zone battlers. Both teams cannot afford to lose with the Promise Keepers in more precarious situation if they are beaten. The action spot is the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne.

    Tomorrow, three games are on display. Rangers will slug it out with Remo Stars in a game they must win to revenge the first leg result in Ikenne which the Sky Blue Stars won 2-1 despite being drama filled.

    It will be more than a contest between Daniel Ogunmodede and his pal in the Super Eagles technical crew, Fidelis Ilechukwu. It will be tactical battle which the Flying Antelopes must win to show that they are ready to return to the continent after their early elimination this season in Africa.

    A home win for Rangers may see them move to the top three if results from other centres go in their favour while an unlikely away win would typically hand the league title to Remo Stars who are currently eighth points better than second placed Shooting Stars at the top.

    In Owerri, Heartland will host Shooting Stars in a must win fixture for the Naze Millionaires who have dropped to the 13th spot with 29 points as a result of the NFF Disciplinary Committee decision to return the deducted three points and three points to Bendel Insurance and Nasarawa United. They are just four points away from the relegation zone and must beat the Oluyole Warriors to steer clear of that thoughts.

    Shooting Stars too need the points to close the gap on Remo Stars who are away to Rangers. They will build more gap between them and third placed Rivers United if they secure points in Owerri and Rivers United fail to beat Enyimba in Aba.

    Bendel Insurance shot from the relegation zone to the 10th spot with 31 points after they had their three points and three goals initially chalked off returned by the Disciplinary Committee of the NFF and they could go even higher on the log if they beat Niger Tornadoes in Benin tomorrow.

  • Rivers United through to State FA Cup final again

    Rivers United through to State FA Cup final again

    Rivers United have booked their spot in the final of the Rivers State FA/President Federation Cup, following a resounding 4-0 victory over Police Crime Busters. The win also secures their place as one of Rivers State’s representatives at the National Finals.

    The Pride of Rivers dominated the match from the outset, employing high pressing tactics that paid dividends in the 25th  minute. Emmanuel Nnaji opened the scoring, beating two defenders and finishing clinically after a pinpoint through pass from teenage sensation David Benjamin.

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    Ubong Friday doubled the advantage in the 32nd  minute, scoring with an easy chip into an empty net after Timothy Zachariah’s clever move around the goalkeeper. The score remained 2-0 at halftime.

    Technical Manager Finidi George made four changes at the start of the second half, introducing Uche John, Okon Aniekeme, Seiyefa Jackson, and Abba Suileman. The substitutions proved pivotal, as Rivers United wrapped up a comfortable win with two goals in two minutes.

    Abba Suleiman delivered a pinpoint cross in the 61st minute, allowing Okon Aniekeme to head home the third goal. Aniekeme sealed the deal with a tap-in to complete his brace, after Abba Suleiman repeated his magic with another precise cross.

    Rivers United will now shift their focus to the Nigeria Premier Football League, as they travel to Aba to face Enyimba FC on Saturday. The match is scheduled to kick off at 3pm and will be broadcast live on StarTimes Beta Sports Channel 244.

  • NPFL: Rivers United sink  Lobi as .Abia Warriors, Ikorodu City, Akwa United record victories

    NPFL: Rivers United sink  Lobi as .Abia Warriors, Ikorodu City, Akwa United record victories

    Rivers United have snapped their five game winless run with a 1-0 defeat of Lobi Stars yesterday at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt as Nigeria Premier Football League Matchday 23 fixtures were decided last weekend.

    Lobi Stars who were equally in dire strait held Rivers United to a goalless draw at half time and they were almost running away with a point when Timothy Zachariah struck in the 88th  minute to hand them the maximum points. It was the Pride of Rivers’ first win of the year and more importantly, it restored them back to the third spot with 38 points from 23 games.

    In Lagos, Ikorodu City moved to the seventh spot with 34 points after they came back from a goal down to beat Kwara United at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena.

    Junior Aimufula stunned the Lagosians’ fans with the opener after two minutes but goals from Toyeeb Ajeyigbe and Shola Adelani in the seventh and 64th  minutes turned the tide.

    In Umuahia, Abia Warriors continued with their recent resurgent with a 3-0 home win over Sunshine Stars. Chidozie Iwundu scored the opener through an own goal in the 18th minute while further goals from Antoine Ijoma and Segun Ogunjimi added gloss to the result in the 36th and 90th minutes.

    Imama Amapakabo’s side are fourth with 36 points while the Owena Whales are 17th with 24 points.

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    In Yenagoa, reigning Champions, Rangers International FC frustrated their hosts, Bayelsa United to a goalless draw. The Flying Antelopes are fifth with 35 points while the Prosperity Boys are 12th  with 29 points.

    In the battle between two former league champions, Akwa United managed a 2-1 home win over Enyimba to earn Kennedy Boboye his first league win since he resumed at the start of the second round.

    Olayemi Ogunleye got the game’s curtain raiser in the 28th minute for the home team while Issah Mohammed equalised for the visitors in the 40th minute on his debut. Uche Sebastian got the Promise Keepers back in front in the 75th minute. The win though failed to keep out of the drop zone but it was a respite for them as they now sit in the 18th  spot with 23 points.

    In Kaduna, Niger Tornadoes could not get the much heralded three points at home to Plateau United. The game which was televised live was taken to the Ahmadu Bello Stadium for the purpose and it didn’t take long for Papa Daniel to score for the Ikon Allah Boys in the 59th  minute off the well struck free kick.

    But the Peace Boys equalised two minutes before the full time through Samuel Kalu.

    Tornadoes slipped to the ninth spot with 31 points while Plateau United are 15th  with 25 points.

    In the other games played, Heartland were pipped 1-0 by Katsina United on Friday while Remo Stars beat Kano Pillars 2-1 in Ikenne. Shooting Stars defeated Bendel Insurance 1-0 to end their seven game unbeaten record.

    El Kanemi Warriors beat Nasarawa United 1-0 in the last fixture of the weekend.

  • NPFL: Rivers United first choice returns for Lobi tie

    NPFL: Rivers United first choice returns for Lobi tie

    Rivers United‘s first-choice goalkeeper, Osagie Onisodumeya, has resumed training ahead of the crucial NPFL Matchday 23 home fixture against Lobi Stars this weekend.

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    Onisodumeya has been sidelined since the matchday 20 tie following an injury he sustained during the match against Plateau United at home but the Goalie has fully recovered and he is in contention for the weekend tie against Lobi Stars in Port Harcourt.

    His return  would be significant boost for Rivers United, who have been without a win since his injury.