Technical manager of Rivers United FC, Stanley Eguma says there will be no talk of revenge when his charges face Enugu Rangers in the second game of the annual pre-season tournament of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), the Super 4. The Flying Antelopes go toe to toe with the Pride of Rivers from 6:45pm […]
The Rivers State Government has concluded plans to host players and officials of Rivers United FC to a grand reception following its impressive showing in the just concluded Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season. United finished in second place with 60 points from 36 matches which means that they will represent Nigeria in the 2017 […]
via RIVERS GOVERNMENT PLANS GRAND RECEPTION FOR RIVERS UNITED — newfanzoneblog
The date of the match day 21 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) game between Enyimba International FC and Rivers United FC has been moved by 24 hours. The game originally scheduled to hold on Wednesday, June 8, 2016 at the Umuahia Township Stadium will now be played on Thursday, June 9, 2016 at the same […]
Very few saw this coming but Rivers United are the champions of the 2015/16 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season-at the half way stage. It has been an intense, bruising, exhilarating and sometimes, dramatic first half of the campaign from our perspective. Rivers United Media now x-rays the first 19 matches of our season and […]
via FIRST STANZA REVIEW OF RIVERS UNITED FC — newfanzoneblog
A superb brace by Rivers United winger, Bernard Ovoke proved the catalyst for a thrilling 4-3 win over Amateur side, Papilo FC in a round of 64 Federation Cup game decided at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo on Wednesday. United were without inspirational stars, Kola Anubi, Ofem Inah, Obomate Frederick and captain, Festus Atutin but […]
via Federation Cup Round Of 64: Ovoke Nails Gallant Papilo FC — newfanzoneblog
No fewer than four first team players will miss Rivers United’s Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) clash with Enugu Rangers on Sunday. Yaovi Douhadji, Guy Kuemian, Godbless Asamoah and Wilson Andoh will definitely miss out on the match day 14 encounter against the Flying Antelopes. Togolese international defender, Douhadji is currently indisposed and has not […]
A late fight back from Rivers United fail to yield dividends as Nigeria Tornadoes prevailed by the odd goal in five in a tempestuous but hugely-entertaining Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) contest decided at the Lokoja Stadium on Sunday.
The big news from the United camp before kick off was the demotion to the bench, of former Super Eagles goal keeper, Sunday Rotimi with Godwin Anyalogu preferred in his place.
In Rotimi’s absence, United conceded three, for the first time this season but Anyalogu was not culpable for any.
In a first half that ebbed and flowed, both sides traded goal scoring chances with the hosts finally taking the lead in the third minute of stoppage time.
United defender, Gabriel Olalekan, who had proved to be his side’s best player of the half, inexplicably attempted a bicycle kick at the edge of his own half but inadvertently caught Ammeh Wilfred in the face.
Olalekan’s carelessness was to cost United as Ismaila Gata stepped up and curled home a beauty from 25 yards past a diving Anyalogu with what proved to be the last kick of a brilliant half of football.
The goal on the stroke of half time was a psychological blow which the United players failed to recover from as the luckless Olalekan diverted Gabriel Wassa’s long range effort past a stranded Anyalogu in the 58th minute for the hosts’ second goal.
Two-nil quickly became three-nil and remarkably, Olalekan was again at fault.
The former Sharks man mistimed a defensive header and Jackson Daniel smacked home at the second time of asking despite Anyalogu’s best efforts to keep out the strike.
The United trainer, Eguma responded by throwing in attacking substitutions which delivered rich and dramatic late rewards.
Daniel Israel and Guy Kuemian were thrown into the fray and they repaid their trainers’ faith with late goals that threw the cat among the pigeons among the Tornadoes faithful.
It proved to be too little, too late though an Ayobami Asekunowo expulsion, at the death, for a second bookable offence saw United’s late fight back end in yet another away defeat.
Tornadoes’ assistant coach, Bala Mohammed blamed ‘tactical mistakes’ for his side’s near capitulation of monumental proportions late on in the contest.
“We had some minor tactical errors especially from the action of our players when they lost the ball.
“After we got the third goal, our player got carried away; most of them.
“They only played when they had the ball and stopped playing when they did not.
“Rivers United then began dominating the midfield with four midfielders playing against our three and that was how they got their goals within a five-minute period,” Mohammed told RIVERS UNITED MEDIA.
On his part, the United technical manager, Stanley Eguma said he will try to ‘correct mistakes’ from their next league fixture.
“We started quite well but we conceded that goal from a free kick at the stroke of half time.
“In the second half, we conceded two quick goals as my players lost their heads.
“The good thing was the fight back but we will try to correct our mistakes from our next match,” Eguma said.
Overall, the game was a brilliant advert for Nigerian football with Tornadoes moving up four places up the standings to 11th place with seven points from six matches while United dropped two places and now occupy seventh place with nine points from six matches
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
Rivers State Sports Commissioner, Honourable Boma Iyaye will reward players of Rivers United FC with the sum of N1 million if they record their first road win of the season on Sunday.
United travel to Lokoja where they will face Niger Tornadoes at the Confluence Stadium as the Nigeria Professional Football League enters match day six this weekend.
Honourable Iyaye says the financial incentive represents “good motivation” which should spur the lads to “a handsome win” on Sunday.
“The people of Rivers State love Rivers United and we want the club to well in all competitions this season.
“We are yearning for that first away victory in the NPFL which we believe will be the first of many to come.
“This move represents good motivation for the players and technical crew and we believe the result on Sunday will be favourable.
“If the boys get a draw against Tornadoes, they will be rewarded with N250,000. 00 (two hundred and fifty thousand naira.
“I also want to use this medium to announce that the sponsors of the club have paid all winning bonuses to all players and we also strictly adhere to the ‘enhanced salary structure’ in line with regulations of the League Management Company (LMC),” Iyaye told Rivers United media.
Rivers United currently sit in sixth place in the NPFL standings with nine points from a possible 15.
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