The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Rivers United

  • NPFL: Rangers defeats Rivers United 2-1 in match day 32

    NPFL: Rangers defeats Rivers United 2-1 in match day 32

    Rangers International of Enugu defeated Rivers United of Port Harcourt 2-1 in a rescheduled week 32 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) match.

    The match, disrupted by rain in the 2oth minute on Sunday, was completed on Monday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium.

    Rangers are placed 13th on the league table with 42 points.

    Ifeanyi George gave Rangers the lead in the 29th minute from Tope Olusesi’s assist.

    George made it 2-0 from the spot kick for Rangers after United`s  defender, Ifeanyi Nweke was adjudged by the center referee to have handled the ball inside the 18 yards box.

    Emeka Ogbugh pulled one back for the visitors in the 72nd minute.

    Okey Odita, Rangers captain, said the team was happy to get the three points.

    “I must tell you that, I am happy because the three points means a lot for us and we thank God for crowning our effort with a victory this morning.

    “I know that the visiting team will come out in the second half to play as they are two goals down.

    “They want to equalize because they are also trying to finish the season safe from relegation.

    “We were reminded by our coach on what to expect from Rivers Utd in the second half,’ Odita said.

    He assured the state government and the supporters that the players would not let them down in their fight to  survive.

  • Rivers United lose in CAF Confederation Cup

    Two second half goals confine Rivers United FC to a 0-2 loss at home in Port Harcourt to Club Africain of Tunisia in a Group A Match Day 5 fixture to drop out of contention for the semi-finals in the CAF Confederation Cup competition.

  • Rivers United players reject allowances

    SCORE Nigeria has scooped that Rivers United players are protesting against what they term as “poor welfare” in the CAF Confederation Cup and have even rejected an allowance paid to them before the Group A match against KCCA of Uganda alleging they were shortchanged.

    Several players told SCORENigeria they have been paid less than what was agreed as their travel allowances for the Confederation Cup.

    Their agitation reached a head on the eve of this week’s clash against Ugandan champions KCCA when they rejected what was paid to them as allowances because it was less than half of what they were supposed to get.

    “We are not being paid what was agreed we will get for the Confederation Cup,” the player informed SCORENigeria.

    “That was why we rejected the daily allowances leading up to the KCCA match because it was less than half of what we are entitled to.

    “We also have received far less than was promised us when we travel out of the country for the Confederation Cup.”

    A top sports official had threatened the players’ salaries will not be paid if they failed to beat KCCA on Tuesday.

    Thankfully, they won 2-1, but they are now third on the table with six points after Club Africain of Tunisia defeated FUS Rabat 2-1 in a late group game Tuesday night.

    All four teams have recorded six points each with goals difference separating them.

    Rivers United will host Club Africain on July 2 in continuation of the annual competition.

  • CAF Confederation Cup: Rivers United beat KCCA FC 2-1

    CAF Confederation Cup: Rivers United beat KCCA FC 2-1

    Hosts Rivers United Football Club on Tuesday  in Port Harcourt scored within a minute and added the second 14 minutes later to defeat Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) FC 2-1.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the match was a CAF Confederation Cup Group A Match Day 4 fixture and it was played at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium.

    Bernard Ovoke scored after 54 seconds while Obomate Frederick scored in the 14th minute for the home team while the visiting Ugandan side’s Serunkuma Geofrey scored in the 45th minute.

    Highlights of the match show that Ovoke’s goal was from a shot direct from a corner kick, while KCCA’s defender Kavuma Habib was was sent off in the game’s 88th minute.

    The Ugandan team had won the first leg of the group game 2-1 in Kampala on June 3.

    Coach Stanley Eguma of Rivers United told sportswriters after the match played under the rain that the victory was very crucial and important.

    Eguma said his team would have won with more goals but were careless with the goal scoring chances they created in the first half.

    He said his team started the game very brightly but were plagued by poor finishing.

    “We won but I expected more goals because this is a game of goals, and for us to qualify, we must score more goals.

    “Yes, it is a game of football, and nobody can change the result, but I am very optimistic that we will qualify from the group and move to the next stage of the competition,” the coach said.

    Eguma noted that the visiting team utilised the only opportunity they created in the extra time of the first half to gain some motivation for the second half.

    “The goal they scored against us was a cheap one, and it is because we became careless. The game paid us back for being careless,” he said.

    The coach however said his team would learn from mistakes and work on the right character to win games.

    On his part, Mike Mutebi, the Head Coach of KCCA FC, who said the Nigerian team was more effective, said his team’s loss was most discouraging.

    “Rivers United are the more effective side. They deserve to win. The early goals in the first 15 minutes of the game sent us into a state of panic and we became demoralised and disorganised.

    “I am hopeful that we shall still qualify in spite of today’s setback.”

    Denis Oola, captain of KCCA FC, on his part noted that the rain was not an excuse for their loss, saying “we also experience rain in Uganda’’.

    Oola agreed that Rivers United utilised their early goal scoring chances to win, noting that the host team are an emerging team on the continent.

  • Ossy strikes late to give ABS FC 2-1 win over Tornadoes

    Ossy strikes late to give ABS FC 2-1 win over Tornadoes

    Martin Ossy came from the bench to help ABS Football Club of Ilorin FC beat hard-fighting Niger Tornadoes FC of Minna 2-1.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the match day 22 2016/2017 NPFL encounter was played on Sunday in Ilorin at the Kwara Stadium.

    Abdullahi Wakili and Samuel Agba started the game brightly for the visitors as they were threatening Ernest Governor and Ibrahim Omolayo in the defence for the Saraki Boys.
    The Saraki Boys confidence grew gradually into the game as Adeshina Gata became the star of the match whilst his movement forward dangerous on most occasions.

    Mohammed fired into the roof of the net after a swift turn to put his team ahead 1-0, his 5th of the season and it ended his 17th match goal drought.

    After the goal, the visitors responded very well and were almost rewarded for it when Adewale Yinka in goal for ABS had to punch away Shittu Lawal’s free kick to corner kick.

    The hosts survived a scare in the 38th minute when they struggled to clear their box and Lawal almost capitalised on it.

    With just a few seconds to go for the break, Lukman Hameed tripped Samuel Agba in his own box and the centre referee wasted no time in pointing for the spot kick.

    Abdullahi Wakili stepped forward to take it and made no mistake to make it 1-1 in spite of Adewale’s attempt to watch over the ball.

    The Saraki Boys responded to half time team talk than their visitors did as they were always bombarding Niger Tornadoes defence, with Gata always giving them a tough time.

    The introduction of Martin Ossy and Abubakar Chindo at the restart of the game was the turning point for the Saraki Boys as Tornadoes players found it difficult to cope with the blistering pace of the duo.

    Mohammed was wasteful in front of goals in the second half as Gata’s supplies upfront was not wisely utilised by his forwards.

    Ossy then arrived at the right time to connect Gata’s pass, dribbling past Kazeem Yekeen before tucking home a beautiful finish.

    Speaking after the game, ABS FC coach, Henry Makinwa, said it was a hard earned victory against a very good team.

    “You did everything tactically but they are not working for you. I had to send Ossy in to join Mohammed and gave him some instructions which he executed very well.

    “I am happy that Mohammed has broken the jinx today, and I hope he can now continue to score” Makinwa said.

    His counterpart in Niger Tornadoes, Abubakar Bala, said they were in Ilorin for real business and they almost got a good result.

    “We almost got a point but we lost concentration in the late minutes.

    “However, we have noticed a few of our mistakes and we are going to work on them before we face Rivers United on Wednesday in Lokoja,” Bala said.

    ABS FC will now make a trip to Nnewi for Match Day 23 against FC IfeanyiUbah on Wednesday.

     

  • CAF Confederation Cup: Rivers United revive hopes with home win

    Rivers United CAF Confederation Cup hopes are back on track after they pipped FUS Rabat of Morocco 1-0 at home in a Group A match yesterday.

    The group has now been thrown wide open after Kampala City Council of Uganda defeated Club Africain of Tunisia 2-1 at home.

    All four teams in this group have now recorded three points each.

    Next month, Rivers United will battle KCCA of Uganda home and away in continuation of the competition.

    Emeka Atuloma scrambled home the match winner after 71 minutes off a free kick on the edge of the box taken by Zoumana Doumbia.

    Three corner kicks, seven free kicks and one shot on target for Fath Union Sport or FUS Rabat of Morocco highlighted the flow of the first half of the CAF Confederation Cup Group A matchday 2 fixture at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Port Harcourt.

    The North Africans were clearly on the driving seat of things as they ran rings round Rivers United.

    The adventurous Maghrebs came close to opening scoring on the 10th minute, when captain Ardessalam Benjelloun forced a great save from Rivers United goalkeeper Sunday Rotimi.

    Benjelloun planted his header on the near post after he was played through by ASS Mandaw Sy which drew loud ovation from the scanty crowd.

    The visitors, with their 4-4-2 formation, dwarfed ‘The Pride of Rivers’ 4-3-3 approach, with the Moroccans enjoying possession time and time again.

    Tormentor-in-chief, Malian-born Yusupha OM Njie, kept the home team’s backline busy with his deft touches, but had Festus Austin to contend with each time he got past Markson Ojobo.

    Rivers United best chance of the day on 20 minutes when John Odumegwu took a straight bite at goal from distance after Moroccan goalkeeper Aymane Majid headed the ball out on the edge of his box which graciously landed on the path of the advancing forward.But his effort missed the target.

    The home side were forced to play with 10 men for five minutes after Guy Kuemian was injured and had to be taken straight to hospital.

    He was replaced by Onoriode Odah.

    Both teams went into the first half break scoreless, much to the consternation of the home fans and supporters.

    The second period took a completely opposite complexion of the first as the Stanley Eguma charges came out from their shells and took charge of things.

    Within 10 minutes of the restart, they forced three corner kicks in succession with Ayo Saka getting to the end of the third but not enough to trouble FUS goaltender Aymane Majid.

    Rivers United finally got their reward on 71st minute, when midfielder Emeka Atuloma poked in from Zoumana Doumbia’s free kick from the edge of the penalty box.

    It was Atuloma’s second goal of the competition, his first being the 2-0 defeat of Rayon Sports, Rwanda, in the first leg of the final qualification games.

    FUS came close to drawing level on the dot of 80 minutes when Nayef Aguero had his header from a corner punched safe, landing squarely for captain Abdessalam Benjelloun who directed his kick over the crossbar.

    Benjelloun was provided with the clearest opportunity for the visitors on the 85th minute, when Ayobami failed to deal with a loose ball well, forcing the Moroccan forward to spill a drive from the edge of the box which Rotimi dived full length to put a finger to for a corner.

    Substitute Bolaji Sakin came close to doubling the lead for the home team when he twisted his marker before he drilled a low drive that goalkeeper Majid went down to push for a corner.

     

  • CAF Confederation Cup: Rivers United hit group Stage

    CAF Confederation Cup: Rivers United hit group Stage

    Nigeria’s only surviving team in continental title chase Rivers United booked a place in the group stage of the CAF Confederation cup Saturday after holding Rayon Sports to a goalless draw at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, Rwanda.

    The two teams had locked horns in a play-off to determine who progresses to the group stage. The first leg played in Nigeria had seen the Rwandan side losing by 2-0, and there were fears among Nigerian soccer fans that the two zero advantage may not last the distance especially after a 3-0 advantage at home was equally cancelled by Al-Merrick of Sunday in the failed CAF Champions league campaign.

    But the Garden City boys hit Kigali with a different mindset and determination to fight to the finish.

    Not cowed by the vociferous Rayon Sports supports who had stormed the beautiful Amahoro stadium on Saturday to cheer their team on, Rivers United fought hard to end the encounter on a no victor no vanquished note but progress on 2-0 aggregate.

    Four Nigerian clubs viz; league champions Rangers United, Rivers United, FC IfeanyiUbah and Wikki Tourist started the race with Rangers and Rivers United competing in the CAF Champions League while FC IfeanyiUbah and Wikki Tourist campaigned in the Confederation Cup.

  • Rivers United ready for ABS FC

    Rivers United ready for ABS FC

    Rivers United will face ABS FC in a rescheduled Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) game on Thursday in Port Harcourt.

    United have underwhelmed this season and need a win against the newly-promoted side to get their campaign back on track.

    ABS FC come into the game on the back of a 0-2 reverse to Abia Warriors in Umuahia last Sunday and will be looking to bounce back with a positive result in Port Harcourt.

    Technical adviser of ABS, Henry Makinwa knows there is a need to produce a positive response particularly as ABS have yet to win in their last five NPFL matches.

    “My expectations are that we are going to win; we want to win.

    “Our ambition is to win all games if it’s possible.

    “Tomorrow (Thursday) is one of the games and we are going to give our best to win the game,” he told the club’s official website, www.riversunitedfc.com.ng.

    United are also desperate for a win and technical manager, Stanley Eguma is eager to see his side return to winning ways against plucky opposition.

    “We are really preparing for the game (against ABS because) at this stage we need good results.

    “We need to win, especially at home; our position on the log is low and we really need to get these three points to start moving up.

    “I know ABS is a very strong, young and energetic team; they have a lot of youthful players and can cause an upset on Thursday.

    “We have to work very hard and not take them for granted.

    “We have to work hard, put our acts together and secure all three points against ABS; that’s our mission now,” Eguma said.

  • Enyimba 1-0 Rivers United: Mfon nets 7th goal of the season

    Enyimba 1-0 Rivers United: Mfon nets 7th goal of the season

    •Hails important victory

    Mfon Udoh was the hero for Enyimba in the Match-Day-15 of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) when he netted the winner against Rivers United.

    Enyimba started the game on the front foot as Joseph Osadiaye curled a free kick just over the bar from a tight angle.

    Udoh chased down a pass from Ikechukwu Ibenegbu but could only direct his shot to the side netting. The away side’s best chance fell to Nzube Anaezemba but he failed to beat Afelokhai in goal.

    The Aba Elephants won a penalty when captain, Mfon Udoh was fouled inside the box and got up to score the penalty for his seventh goal of the season to ensure the vital three points.

    “It was a very difficult game I must confess because Rivers United needed a win or at least a draw against us but we were determined and came out with the vital win,” Mfon told SportingLife after the match.

    “We played the game as if it was a Cup final and thankfully we got the important win. Our aim to give the title defence our best shot and at the end of the season, we’ll see how it goes,” he said

  • CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Rivers United to leave for Sudan today

    CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Rivers United to leave for Sudan today

    Rivers United began their onward movement to Sudan yesterday when they left Port Harcourt for the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos and they are expected to leave for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia before finally connecting a flight to Khartoum the Sudanese capital ahead of Saturday’s CAF Champions League first round, return leg tie.

    The Pride of Rivers led 3-0 from the first leg tie played at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium, Port Harcourt last weekend through the goals of Guy Kuemian in the 16th and 18th minutes and the third by Esosa Igbinoba in the 81st minute but they must avoid a disastrous second leg if they are to qualify for the group stage.

    The Media Officer of the team, Sammy Wejinya told SportingLife that Rivers United are to arrive Khartoum in the early hours of Friday before another flight to Omburman the venue of the Saturday tie.

    Meanwhile, Rivers United will be without inspirational midfielder, Emeka Atuloma who has been booked twice in the three games he has played for the Nigeria’s representatives in the competition and another player has been picked to take his place.