Niger Tornadoes and Rivers United go head to head in a match day six Nigeria Professional Football League game that should be special for many reasons.
Tornadoes currently sit in 15th place on the NPFL standings with four points from five matches but this is a side that can score goals.
Abdullahi Biffo’s charges have scored in all but one of their opening five fixtures this season but they come up against a United side that sit in fifth place on the log and have netted in all five of their games this term.
Biffo has no injury concerns and says his side is ready to put the Port Harcourt club to the sword on Sunday.
“The fans want victory and that is what the players want too. Our position on the log is not encouraging so to improve it, we have to go all out for an outright win against Rivers United,” Biffo told RIVERS UNITED MEDIA.
Tornadoes currently play their home fixtures away from their traditional home ground; the Minna Township Stadium due to refurbishment work at their home lair.
They have since made the Confluence Stadium, Lokoja, their home ground where they have amassed four points from a possible six.
Biffo does not think playing home games away from Minna is a problem for his side.
“That we play in Lokoja does not affect our results. It is quite clear that in the Nigerian league today, if you have a good team, you can play anywhere (and get a good result).
“We don’t really miss playing in Minna (from a footballing perspective).
“The only thing we miss are the fans who will always come out in their numbers to cheer us to victory when we play in Minna,” he said.
The visitors, Rivers United have been peerless at home but notoriously poor travellers this season.
They have shipped in four goals in just two matches and failed to amass even a single point on their travels this season.
Technical manager, Stanley Eguma has no injury worries but has surprisingly excluded Benjamin Ovoke from the match day squad.
He insists the losing streak in away games will be snapped on Sunday.
“We have yet to pick up a single point on the road this season. We have prepared for this game against Niger Tornadoes.
“Our preparations are aimed at seeing us pick maximum points (here in Lokoja) but we know we are going to face a very good side.
“From their days in the second division, they have kept the core of their tem even after gaining promotion (to the elite division) so they have continuity as an important factor going for them,” he said.
The fixture kicks off at 4pm at the Confluence Stadium, Lokoja.
Form guide (Niger Tornadoes)
Match day one: Plateau 2-1 Tornadoes
Match day two: Tornadoes 1-1 Giwa
Match day three: Rangers 2-1 Tornadoes
Match day four: Tornadoes 2-0 Nasarawa
Match day five: Warri Wolves 1-0 Tornadoes
Form guide (Rivers United)
Match day one: Rivers United 1-0 Enyimba
Match day two: MFM FC 2-1 Rivers United
Match day three: Rivers United 2-0 FC Ifeanyi Ubah
Match day four: Giwa FC 2-1 Rivers United
Match day five: Rivers United 1-0 Nasarawa United
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