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Tag: Rivers United

  • 10 man Plateau United sink Rivers United in Jos

    10 man Plateau United sink Rivers United in Jos

    Despite playing with 10 men, Plateau United managed to repel 2022 Nigeria Premier Football League winners, Rivers United in Jos yesterday in a rearranged league tie.

    Albert Hilary, Muhammad Umar and Adam Yakubu scored for Plateau United who had Moses Adikwu sent off 16 minutes before time while Andy Okpe and Endurance Ebedeberi bagged the two spot kicks awarded to the away side in the game.

    The game was just 25 minutes old when the centre referee spotted an infringement in the 18 yards box of the home team. The referee adjudged ball-handling inside the Plateau United box by Adikwu and pointed to the spot.

    Andy Okpe expertly scored from 12 yards to hand the early initiative to Rivers United two minutes after the infringement but Plateau United got the equaliser five minutes before halftime also from the spot kick as Albert Hilary sent Osagie Onisodumeya the wrong way.

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    The second half was just nine minute old when Daniel Itodo’s long throw caused commotion inside the Peace Boys’ box and Muhammad Umar fired home from the melee to give the hosts the lead for the first time in the game.

    Rivers United redoubled their efforts and were rewarded with the equaliser from the penalty kick again in the 64th minute.

    The referee adjudged a foul on Samuel Antwi by Moses Adikwu and pointed to the spot. Endurance Ebedeberi didn’t make a mistake as he drew his team level.

    Despite having a hand in the two goals conceded by Plateau United, it got even worse for Adikwu following his second bookable offense in the 74th minute that led to his dismissal from the game. Plateau United had the last laugh in the 87th minute following a ballistic missile from Adam Yakubu which rested at the back of the net for the home team’s third goal.

    Plateau United moved to the fifth spot with 28 points from 17 games while Rivers United are 17th with 17 points from 13 games. They are still with four outstanding games.

    Plateau United will be at home again against Enyimba on Monday while Rivers United will return home to face Akwa United on Tuesday.

  • Club Africain drown Rivers United in Tunis

    Club Africain drown Rivers United in Tunis

    Rivers United were hammered 3-0 on  Matchday Four of the CAF Confederation Cup by Club Africain of Tunisia at the Stade Hammadi Agrebi in  Tunis yesterday.

    The Pride of Rivers were 2-0 down at halftime and despite valiant attempt to stage a comeback in the second half, the Nigerian representatives conceded another goal  to settle for the 3-0 loss.

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    Rivers United who have slipped to the third spot in Group C with just six points from four games must beat Angolan side, Academica Petroleos do Lobito  in an away tie on February 25th , 2024  and Dreams FC of Ghana on March 3rd , 2024 in Uyo to qualify for the quarter final for the second season running.

    Dreams FC compounded Rivers United woes after they smashed Academica Petroleos do Lobito of Angola 4-0. The Ghanaian side are second in the group with nine points from four games and with improved goals difference.

  • Club Africain vs. Rivers United: Eguma, Nwagua sure of positive result in Tunis

    Club Africain vs. Rivers United: Eguma, Nwagua sure of positive result in Tunis

    Rivers United Technical Manager Stanley Eguma and skipper Nyima Nwagua have both exuded confidence  over the team’s chances in tonight’s Group C CAF Confederation Cup tie against Club Africain of Tunisia in Tunis.

    Eguma who said he knows his team would come up against a tough Club Africain side, wants his players to improve on their goal conversation ratio as they target a positive result in Tunis. 

    “In the game of football chances can come but the most important is converting the chances,” Eguma said.”They got their chances and played well in the game and also did as well but converted just one. You cannot score all the chances you created. They are a good team.”

    Nwagua also buttressed the coach’s assertions while adding that the Pride of Rivers won’t be intimidated by the Club Africain’s massive fan base.

    “We know that their fans are always there for them,” Nwagua said. “We know that the fans support will help them and their splendid form is a testament. We know what we want and we will go for it.”

    Meanwhile, Rivers United have alleged that they were refused access to their official training session yesterday night at the Stade de Rades, venue of their today’s CAF Confederation Cup tie with Club Africain of Tunisia.

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    The club said they received a correspondence from CAF noting that they won’t be allowed to make use of the facilities at the stadium because the pitch was in no condition to host an official training session.

    “Rivers United FC of Nigeria have received communication from CAF that the team will not be allowed to have their official training session this evening at the Stade de Rades, venue for Wednesday’s TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup Group C matchday 4 tie against Club Africain citing intelligence report received from the match officials that the pitch is in no condition to host an official training session,” the club’s statement read.

    Rivers United are second in the group with six points but Club Africain and Dreams FC have the same number of points from three games as they play Games number four today.

  • Confederation Cup: Rivers United bounce back with home win

    Confederation Cup: Rivers United bounce back with home win

    Rivers United secured their first win over Tunisian side, Club Africain following their 1-0 victory at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo in a CAF Confederation Cup Matchday Three tie of Group C.

    The Pride of Rivers got the only goal in the 40th  minute through skipper Nyima Nwagua.

    The vital home win returns  the Nigeria’s representatives to the top of Group C on head to head with six points ahead of Club Africain who also have six points and have similar goals difference (+3) as Rivers United.

    Read Also: CONFED CUP: Club Owners canvass support for Rivers United

    Meanwhile, Ghana’s Dreams FC scored first against Angolan side Academica Petroleos do Lobito but the home team rallied back to get a draw. Dreams FC are third in the group with four points while Academica secured their first point in the group.

    Rivers United will face Club Africain in Tunis on December 20th  in the reverse fixture while Dreams FC will be at home Academica Petroleos do Lobito on the same day to continue their search for the quarter final ticket.

  • CONFED CUP: Club Owners canvass support for Rivers United

    CONFED CUP: Club Owners canvass support for Rivers United

    The Vice Chairman of the Club Owners Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Suleiman Umar , has  solicited support for Rivers United, the country’s only representative on the continent in the CAF Confederation Cup to return to the Adokiye Amiesimaka stadium for their home games. 

    This he said should be done in earnest so that they can enjoy the support of their fans in Rivers state. 

    Alhaji Umar who was speaking on behalf of the association was specific about the kind of support the Port Harcourt based team needs to make Nigeria proud. 

    “The most consistent football club from Nigeria on the continent in the last three seasons has been Rivers United and it’s not a surprise that they’re the only team still flying Nigeria’s flag on the continent.

    “What they need right now is for Nigeria to play the politics at CAF’s level so that they can return to Port Harcourt to play their remaining home games at the Adokiye Amiesimaka stadium. We’ve seen some of the stadiums they’ve played their away games in Africa that are not anywhere near what you’ve in Port Harcourt”, explained the proprietor of Doma United of Gombe state. 

    Meanwhile, speaking in the same vein after his clubs 2-1 loss in Ghana on Sunday, the General Manager of Rivers United, Chief Okey Kpalukwu said  Nigeria stands a chance of winning the CAF Confederation Cup if only his team is allowed to play at home in Port Harcourt. 

    “The pitch at the Adokiye Amiesimaka stadium in Port Harcourt is better than the several pitches that I have played in on the continent, including that of Sunday’s game in Kumasi, Ghana, yet CAF approved it for the club because they have their people upstairs protecting their interests in CAF,” stated the NPFL Club Owners chairman. 

    Read Also: CCC:  Dreams FC dims Rivers United in Kumasi

    He added: “There’s no place like one’s home ground, we want Nigerians, including our fans in Port Harcourt to come out en masse and be saved the stress of traveling outside of Rivers state to come and support us. We will once again appeal through the appropriate channel, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to interface with CAF to allow us play in Port Harcourt because our stadium meets all their requirements.”

    Rivers United are in the group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup alongside Club Africain of Tunisia, Dreams Fc of Ghana and Academica do Lobito of Angola in group C. 

    With a win and a defeat in two games played so far, The Pride of Rivers awaits Club Africain this Sunday at the Godswill Akpabio stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state.

  • Friendlies: Rivers United dismantle Enyimba as Akwa United edge Heartland

    Friendlies: Rivers United dismantle Enyimba as Akwa United edge Heartland

    Enyimba Nigeria Premier Football League title defence continues to be plagued with disappointment following their 2-0 defeat to Rivers United at the Enyimba Stadium, Aba yesterday.
    The People’s Elephant won their ninth league title at the NPFL Championship Playoff held in Lagos in June but the club’s route to chasing a 10th title has been far from smooth.
    Enyimba were beaten in the first round of the CAF Champions League against Al Ahly Benghazi of Libya 4-3 on aggregate after a goalless draw in front of their fans in Aba two weeks ago.
    The team under the leadership of Kanu Nwankwo and coached by Finidi George were beaten 2-0 by Rivers United who won the league title in 2022 and currently represent Nigeria in the CAF Confederation Cup.
    The game had ended goalless at halftime thanks to Abiodun Akande who saved a penalty kick given to Enyimba but Rivers United were outstanding in the second half scoring two wonderful goals.
    Yao Benard put the visitors ahead in the 63rd minute before Rivers United skipper, Nyima Nwagua put the icing on the cake with the second goal in the 96th minute.
    Enyimba must now regroup to ensure they have a creditable performance when the season begins at a yet to be announced date where they will face Remo Stars in Aba.
    Meanwhile, in another friendly game, Heartland FC suffered a 1-0 loss to Akwa United in Uyo.

  • Nwagua rallies Rivers United for CAF Confederation Cup

    Nwagua rallies Rivers United for CAF Confederation Cup

    Rivers United skipper Nyima Nwagua has disclosed that the Pride of Rivers players will do everything in their powers to ensure the club go as far as possible in the CAF Confederation Cup campaign this term.
    The club exited the same competition in the quarter final last season after they were beaten by Young Africans of Tanzania.
    But Nwagua in an appreciative chat to the Rivers State Commissioner for Sports, Barrister Christopher Green and other good people of Rivers State led by the State Government, said Rivers United players would go out their ways to ensure they make the state and Nigerians happy in the CAF Confederation Cup.

    Read Also: CAF warns Enyimba, others on African Football League


    He confirmed that the state government has been taking care of their needs as and when due despite the economic hardship and that ensuring they leave a landmark in Africa and doing well in the domestic Competitions are their targets this season.
    “I want to thank the Government of Rivers State for the way the team has been taken care of. Despite the economic situation of the country, we do not have anything to complain about,” Nwagua said.
    “What we have to do to compensate for that is for us to do well in the CAF Confederation Cup. We will have our sights on ensuring that we finish well in the competition. We have a tie with Etoile Filante this weekend. We shall approach the game with all seriousness.”

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    Nwagua also expressed optimism that the team has overcome its initial challenges including the strikers’ tardiness in front of goal and that they are going to Burkina Faso with high hope to record a good result.
    Meanwhile, Barrister Green has charged Rivers United to understand the need to put the badge first and note that they are not just representatives of their families and Rivers State, but also ambassadors of Nigeria.
    He said the players and the technical crew should approach the first leg tie against the Burkinabes’ Etoile Filante with all they have so that they can return home with a favourable result.
    Rivers United will line up against the 13-time Burkinabe Premier League champions, 21-time Coupe de Faso kings and seven-time Burkinabe Super Cup champions; Etoile Filante de Ouagadougou in the second preliminary round, first leg tie on Sunday at the Stade de Yamoussoukro, Yamoussoukro (Cote d’Ivoire).

  • Pre season tourney: Rivers United, Abia Warriors through to Semi-final

    Nigerian Premier Football League,(NPFL) sides, Rivers United and Abia Warriors have qualified for the finals of the 2018 Southeast/Southsouth pre-season tournament.

    Joining them in the next round are host team, Cynosure FC of Abakaliki and Nationwide League Division One new entrants, SKE FC of Port-Harcourt.
    However, another Premier League side, Heartland of Owerri were knockout of the tournament after playing out three goalless draws in the group stage.
    The Naze Warriors drew with Abia Warriors, Ebonyi Professionals FC and Cynosure FC I’m group B.
    Cynosure FC after losing their second match yesterday to Abia Warriors 2-0 knew came into their match day three with Heartland determined to pick the second semi-final ticket after Rivers United drew with Ebonyi Professionals earlier in the day to pick the first ticket from the group.
    Both teams have good account of themselves but could not break the deadlock as it ended goalless.
    In the morning hard fighting Patrios FC of Enugu lost to SKE by a loan goal in the second smile final ticket match decider.
    The semi-final matches comes up tomorrow at the Park Ngele Oruta stadium Abakaliki, Ebonyi State Capital.
    Rivers United will take on Cynosure FC while Abia Warriors will battle with SKE FC for the second Final ticket.
  • NPFL: Abia Warriors demolish Rivers United 4-1

    NPFL: Abia Warriors demolish Rivers United 4-1

    Abia Warriors Football Club of Umuahia on Saturday wrapped up their 2016/2017 Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) season with a spectacular 4-1 demolition of visiting Rivers United FC of Port Harcourt.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Abia Warriors began the game at the Umuahia Township Stadium on a poor note and were punished for this in the 23rd minute.

    Rivers United forward Guy Kueman cashed in on a lapse in the Abia Warriors’ defence to put the ball behind goalkeeper Chinedu Anozie for their lone goal.

    However, Effiong Ndifereke drew his side level in the 32nd minute, when he fired a shot past goalkeeper Sunday Rotimi from outside the penalty area.

    Ndifereke gave his side the lead in the 49th minute, when he converted a penalty kick after a Rivers’ defender handled the ball.

    Stanley Nwuju, who replaced Amanfor Chimezie, extended his team’s lead in the 88th minute with a powerful shot into the net.

    In the second minute of added time, Moses Omoduemuke latched on to a pass to place the ball behind the goalkeeper for Warriors’ fourth goal.

    The captain of Rivers United, Festus Austin, who looked devastated by the result, told NAN at the end of the match that his team lost grip of the game when they conceded the equaliser.

    “We lost grip of the game in the first half,” Austin said, adding that “the equaliser demoralised us.’’

    He said the team thought it “could pick up a point in Umuahia’’ to improve their standing on the log.

    Reflecting on the season, Austin said it was difficult for his side, saying “the beginning of the season was actually difficult for us and we picked up late’’.

    He however said they had learnt their mistakes and were hopeful of correcting them next season.

    Coach Abdullahi Biffo of Abia Warriors expressed happiness that the club survived the relegation threat.

    “I must give kudos to the players for their resilience,” he said, adding that even when they were one goal down, they pushed hard and got the equaliser.

    The coach said the equaliser acted as the tonic which propelled the team to pummel the visitors with more goals.

    He however regretted that the team failed to sustain its brilliant performance in the first stanza of the league and now had to struggle to avert relegation.

    Biffo gave assurance that the management and coaching crew would meet to analyse their performance and ascertain their weak points and mistakes with a view to correcting them next season.

    In an interview with NAN at the end of the game, a cross-section of football fans expressed joy that at the end of the day, the club did not go into relegation.(NAN)

  • Season challenge: Eguma sings lamentation songs

    Season challenge: Eguma sings lamentation songs

     

    The current Nigeria professional football league season has been a mixture of tooth ache and migraine for Garden City based side Rivers United.

    Coach of the side Stanley Eguma who revealed this after his side suffered a 2-1 defeat in the hands of league defending champions

    Rangers international Monday at the Cathedral, frowned at the fixtures which he confessed has put a lot of pressure on his team.

    His lamentation is coming even as the side prepares to face Kano pillars next; in a tie some analysts say they are bound to lose successfully considering the busy bee approach to matches by the Kano based side.

    The stress of travels according to Eguma has also taken its toll on Rivers United whose continental campaign ended on a poor note following their early exit from the continental showpiece.

    Ït has not been easy, we have injury worries and fatigue has also set in.  The fixtures are not the best but we cannot do anything about it we just have to obey the rules of LMC even when it is not beneficial, “he regretted

    Rivers United are just a step above relegation zone with 41 points in 31 matches.

    Meanwhile Rangers coach Sylvanus Okpalla has urged his side not to  pomp champagne following  Monday’s victory over Rivers United noting that the Coal city side need a lot of catching up to do.  With just six matches left in the season Okpalla believes the Flying Antelopes should aspire to clinch the remaining points to improve standing on the log.

    Rangers occupy the 13th position on the log with 42 points in 32 matches. The remaining matches of the league will prove to be crucial for virtually all the teams as no fewer than seven of them have just two to three points separating them and every point will prove to be vital.