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Tag Rivers United

  • Mar, Wed, 2020
Sport

NPFL: Warri Wolves suffer 3-0 defeat at Rivers United

Defeat

By Omuboye Sukubo

Port Harcourt, March 18, 2020 (NAN) Visiting Warri Wolves Football Club on Wednesday suffered a 3-0 defeat in a Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) fixture against Rivers United FC at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Port Harcourt.

The Head Coach of Warri Wolves, Evans Ogenyi, later told sportswriters after the match that his team lost the game because they did not take their chances.

“Football will always remain as football. We came here with a game plan, but it is unfortunate that things did not work out.

“So, the team that took its chances won the game and I have congratulated my professional colleagues because they took their chances.’’

He however blamed it all on anxiety, saying “ìt’s not as we couldn’t play, but out of anxiety or whatever we failed to take our chances and we lost.’’

Ogenyi however said it was not in his character to talk about officiating, and urged sportswriters, as major stakeholders, to refrain from being biased in reportage and be analytical.

“I want a situation that you will report games as you see them, because the sportswriters are partners in progress and are expected to report every area of the game for improvement.’’

In his reaction, Stanley Eguma, the Head Coach of Rivers United, said the match was a good one, especially as the outcome was as he expected.

“We actually came to win the match. We prepared very well, knowing full well that Warri Wolves have recently improved, especially in away games.

“We didn’t take them for granted. We knew that we were going to face a very tough game today (Wednesday), and that is exactly what we saw from the beginning of the game.

“They matched us head-to-head toe-to-toe and, at the end of the day, we tried to open them up because they were playing a kind of compact midfield in the first half,” he said.

Eguma stated that opening his opponents up on the flanks paved way for the first goal which spurred on his players and they capitalised on their opponents’ loopholes in the second half.

He however said “in spite of the victory, Warri Wolves as a team are not pushovers.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Malachi Ohawume scored a brace for Rivers United in the 37th and 83rd minutes, while Kunle Odunlami scored in the 73rd minute.(NAN)
OAS/OLAL
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

  • Mar, Mon, 2020
Sport

1-0 victory over FC IfeanyiUbah was below expectations, Rivers United’s Eguma laments

Lamentation
By Omuboye Sukubo
Port Harcourt, March 8, 2020 (NAN) Stanley Eguma, the Head Coach of Rivers United Football Club, on Sunday said he was unhappy with his team in spite of their 1-0 victory over visiting FC IfeanyiUbah of Nnewi.

Eguma said his team’s performance in the Match Day 23 fixture of the 2019/2020 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) played at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Port Harcourt was below expectations.

“The visiting team gave us a tough game.’’

He however thanked God for the victory and commended his players for securing the maximum points.

“We played below expectations, no doubt about that. We tried to outsmart our opponents but they came prepared. However, the important thing is we were able to get the victory.

“The goal came very late in the game, that was not good for us, and before then the boys were somehow demoralised because our opponents came out very strong for this game.

“Though, I had expected a tough game today because after winning an away game, our next opponents would be prepared more than expected,” he said.

Eguma said while Rivers United were trying to win all games, whether away or home, they were however not finding home games easy to win.

“We don’t find it easy at home to win. It could the strategy of our opponents or we tend to relax more at home than when we are playing away.

“But we are going to work against that to ensure that we always win home games comfortably,” he added.

According to the Rivers United coach, away victories are making the league very competitive and his team were prepared to win their next game in Enugu against Rangers International FC.

“We have respect for Rangers because they are a very strong team in the country. We don’t underrate them but we are going to Enugu to play our best.

“It’s only our best that can give us good result there, because we are on course, and we don’t want to come down from the top of the table,” he said.

Speaking also, Uche Okagbue, the coach of FC IfeanyiUbah, said his team played well and he was not happy because they were yet to pick enough points away.

“We have not got enough points. We got only one point away in the first round. So, we are trying to get it right in this second round.

“We tried the strategy of holding them on a counter-attack, to win the game or pick a draw, but unfortunately we lost,” he said.

Okagbue however said he was determined to see that his team were among the top six clubs at the end of the season.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ogbonna Onuoha scored the lone goal for Rivers United in the 81st minute.(NAN)

OAS/OLAL

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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

  • Feb, Sun, 2020
Sport

Kano Pillars’ coach decries Rivers United’s tactics in 1-2 defeat

Tactics
By Omuboye Sukubo
Port Harcourt, Feb. 23, 2020 (NAN) Ibrahim Musa, the Head Coach of Kano Pillars Football Club, on Sunday decried the “delay tactics style of football’’ deployed by Rivers United FC during their 1-2 defeat in Port Harcourt.

Musa told sports journalists after their Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Match Day 21 fixture at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium that the host team players were “just falling on the pitch”.

He said while his team played with high intensity from the first to the last minute, their hosts were just playing negative football.

“If you observed our opponents very well, they were just falling and falling. We don’t believe in falling. We go out to play the ball, whether we will win, lose or draw,’’ the coach alleged.

He then urged the Rivers United technical crew to change their tactics “because this style is not good for Nigerian football.

“Delay tactics in the field of play is not a good strategy, because if you want to play at the continental level, you can’t get this kind of delay tactics of falling always.’’

Musa said his Kano Pillars FC team played very well and created chances but could not convert them.

“We had the chances but luck was not on our side. We need to work hard, if we must go far.

“We have to go back to the drawing board and work on our finishing. That is the problem,” he said.

The Kano Pillars coach however admitted that the host team were good, insisting nonetheless that they could not be compared with his club.

In his reaction, Rivers United’s Stanley Eguma disagreed with his Kano Pillars’ counterpart that delay tactics were deployed by the hosts.

“It was my team’s desire to go all out and get goals.’’

Eguma, who pointed out that every coach, player or fan must have his or her opinion about every game, said Musa’s opinion was wrong however.

He stated that football was a game of contact, and when a player fell, it would be left to the referee to take a decision.

“So, I disagree with my colleague (Musa) because it has been our desire to play an attacking game all through to get goals and we did that.

“That doesn’t mean that if you move forward, you will not fall back. Players must fall back to defend, because the game is all about defending and attacking,” Eguma said.

The Rivers United FC technical head insisted that his players defended because they were leading.

“What do you expect the players to do? The pressure was on our side, and the players returned to their half to defend.

“In the process, we committed an infringement which also gave them the goal through the free-kick.”

Eguma admitted also that the match was a tough one because Kano Pillars were a good side.

“So, when playing them, you have to prepare, and we prepared very well, and in today’s game, we played to instructions and because of the pressure, we got the first goal via a penalty kick.

“We had a good game plan, and Kano Pillars were within our reach, and we got the game,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that N’Gouan Konan scored for Rivers United via a penalty kick in the 20th minute, while Cletus Emotan scored in the 86th minute.

Rabiu Ali however scored for Kano Pillars in the second minute of second half added time through a stunning free-kick.(NAN)
OAS/DOE/OLAL
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(Edited by Dianabasi Effiong and Olawale Alabi)

 

Sport

Rivers United captain says winning first match against El-Kanemi Warriors crucial to season

The Rivers United FC team

 

NAN-S-13
Match
By Olanrewaju Akojede
Lagos, Jan. 12, 2018 (NAN) The captain of Rivers United Football Club, Festus Austin, on Friday said his team needed a good start to the 2017/2018 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season this Sunday.

Austin told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that his team was ready for their first match of the season against El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri.

“Winning our first match is important to our campaign this season,’’ he said.

Austin said his team would aim for the maximum points on Sunday, after drawing inspiration from recent successes in the pre-season period.

“We are ready for the first match against El-Kanemi. It is an important match for us and we cannot afford a miss.

“The first match is crucial for us because it may determine what the team will look like in the season. We want all three points against them.

“We have prepared well through various pre-season tournaments.

“We are going to defeat El-Kanemi Warriors in Port Harcourt,’’ he said.

NAN reports that Rivers United had an unimpressive performance in the 2016/2017 NPFL season and barely escaped relegation in spite of playing in the 2017 CAF Champions League.

This time however, the club has had some reinforcements, and prepared for the season by playing in several pre-season tournaments.

Rivers United won the recently-concluded four-team pre-season competition at the Sharks FC Stadium in Port Harcourt, beating Abia Warriors in the final.

The club are now up against El-Kanemi Warriors in a stand-out fixture in the opening weekend of the 2017/18 campaign at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Port Harcourt.

El-Kanemi Warriors will be hoping to continue from where they stopped last season, after narrowly missing out on winning a ticket to the continent.

The Desert Warriors management have gone on to employ the 2015/2016 title-winning coach, Imama Amapakabo, to bolster their campaign.

Amapakabo, currently with the CHAN Eagles as the team’s assistant coach, is expected to bring his wealth of experience to the team.(NAN)
KOJE/AIB/OLAL
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(Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde and Olawale Alabi)

 

Sport

CAF competitions: Football enthusiasts hail Nigerian clubs’ performances

NAN-S-18
Performances
By Jaa’far and Victor Okoye
Abuja, Feb. 13, 2017 (NAN) A cross-section of football enthusiasts in Abuja on Monday hailed the performances of the country’s four representatives in the 2017 Confederation of African Football (CAF) club competitions.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Rangers International Football Club of Enugu were the first to step out, holding JS Saoura of Algeria to a 1-1 draw.

The match played in Algiers was a first round first leg fixture in the CAF Champions League.

Also, Rivers United FC of Port Harcourt on Saturday held AS Real Bamako of Mali to a goalless draw in Bamako in the same competition.

On Sunday, FC IfeanyiUbah of Nnewi defeated visiting Al Masry of Egypt 1-0 in the first leg of the preliminary round of the ongoing 2017 CAF Confederation Cup in Nnewi.

However, it was a sad outing for Wikki Tourists of Bauchi, who fell 2-0 to Royal Forces FC of Sierra Leone in the CAF Confederation Cup also.

Those who spoke with NAN however described the results as impressive, adding however that a lot of work still needed to be done.

Patrick Pascal, Super Eagles’ team coordinator said the results were quite commendable, especially because their opponents were no pushovers and were also top sides in their various countries.

“Away draws as in the case of Rangers and Rivers United are not bad, but we must ensure that we do our homework well and not take our opponents for granted as they will be coming to cause an upset, “he said.

Pascal said, as for Wikki Tourists, it was not over yet, and the Bauchi side must pick themselves, go back to the drawing board.

“They must prepare well to ensure they deal decisively with the Sierra Leonean side in Bauchi,’’ he added.

Musa Talle, the FCT Football Association Chairman, said the victory for FC IfeanyiUbah was good, but added however that the situation could still be dicey.

“The lone goal victory by the Anambra Warriors is commendable, but they must have to guard against complacency when they go away to Egypt.

“The Egyptians, as we have seen over the years, are very good at finishing the job on home soil.

“They will attack, throwing all in their arsenal at you till the last blast of the whistle. So, we must be very wary of them,” he said.

Talle also noted that the goalless draw by Rivers United was not a bad result, but could still be dangerous,.

“Rangers are in a better position to qualify, having scored an away goal.’’

He however said Wikki Tourists have a lot of work on their hands, having conceded two goals.

“They must therefore ensure they work on their attack and score two or more goals, while ensuring that they do not concede any,” Talle said.

Godwin Bamigboye, Chairman of FCT Football Coaches Association, said the performances of the various clubs were commendable.

“The time has come for us to bring back the glory days of the country’s dominance in the CAF club competitions.

“The boys have done well so far, but we must remember that it is not yet uhuru.

“The coaches must be very tactical and technical in their various approaches to the second leg.

“I believe they have seen the strengths and weaknesses of their various opponents and will go back to the drawing board and do a proper evaluation for a successful execution of their task in the next leg.

“We must bring back the glory days of teams like Enyimba, who won the competition back-to-back.

“There is no reason why we can’t achieve that feat again, “he said.

NAN reports that the second leg ties of the pairings in the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup competitions come up in less than a week’s time.(NAN)
JI/VO/KOLE/OLAL
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(Edited by Remi Koleoso and Olawale Alabi)

Sport

CAF Champions League: Rivers United hold Mali’s AS Real Bamako to goalless draw

NAN-S-14
Draw
By Victor Okoye
Abuja, Feb. 11, 2017 (NAN) Rivers United Football Club of Port Harcourt on Saturday held AS Real Bamako of Mali to a goalless draw in Bamako in their 2017 CAF Champions League pairing.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the result came about 24 hours after Nigeria’s other representatives, Rangers International, held their Algerian opponents to a 1-1 draw in Algiers.

The first round first leg game played at the Stade Omnisports Modibo Keita saw the Rivers United side holding their own at the end of a very cagey first half.

On resumption of play in the second half, Lukman Mohammed nearly broke the deadlock.

From then on, it was Rivers United all the way with another attempt at goal in the 49th minute as the visitors dictated the pace of the game.

When Real Bamako made a dangerous incursion however, it was goalkeeper Femi Thomas who stopped rampaging Abdramane Traore from a point blank situation.

Asamoah Godbless came in in the 56th minute for Mohammed as coach Stanley Eguma appeared to go all out for an away victory.

Not even the introduction of Idrissa Traore in place of Mohammed Sangary could achieve the desperate result being sort by the hosts as Rivers United’s defence was resolute.

The hosts had another chance at goal in the 73rd minute after Salim Bah sent in a dangerous cross but it was perfectly dealt with by a very impressive Thomas.

Allissou Sanou was stretchered off in the 77th minute but this did not deter Rivers United as substitute Ayobami Asekunowo proved to be a perfect replacement.

He continued from where Sanou stopped, mounting pressure on the hosts who were subsequently forced to introduce Nigerian-born Folarin Temitope in the 79th minute.

Coach Stanley Eguma on his part introduced Benard Ovoke to replace Nzube Anazemba in a tactical substitution.

With few minutes to the end of the match the home fans who were visibly disappointed began to exit the Modibo Keita stadium.

There were four crucial minutes of added time which appeared to be pulsating, but a determined Rivers United side refused to crumble till the last blast of the referee’s whistle.

The result puts the Garden City side in a better position ahead of the return leg in a week’s time.(NAN)
VO/OLAL
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

Sport

Continental club competitions: NFF to inspect Enugu, Bauchi, Nnewi, Port Harcourt stadiums

NAN-S-21

Inspection
By Bushrah Yusuf-Badmus
Ilorin, Jan. 11, 2017 (NAN) The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will inspect all four venues being proposed for home matches by clubs representing Nigeria in African competitions in 2017, a federation official said on Wednesday.

NFF’s Acting Director of Communications, Ademola Olajire, said in a statement that this was based on the agreement reached with the clubs at a meeting in Abuja on Wednesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was between NFF officials and officials of the four clubs, namely Rangers International, Rivers United, FC IfeanyiUbah and Wikki Tourists.

Olajire quoted NFF’s Director of Competitions, Bola Oyeyode, as saying none of the four stadia had been previously inspected and approved by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the competitions’ organisers.

Oyeyode said this necessitated the need for NFF to inspect the venues well ahead of the continental competitions.

“So, the deliberations today (Wednesday) centred on match venues, stadium readiness, team preparation, team travel and accommodation, logistics, match officials’ travel and accommodation, communication with NFF and officials of the opposition team, safety, security and medical provisions,’’ the statement quoted him as saying.

It added that Oyeyode also briefed officials of the four clubs on the requirements of CAF.

Oyeyode further harped on the importance of being fully prepared in all the noted areas in order not to attract avoidable sanctions and unpleasant experiences during their campaigns.

NAN reports that Enugu-based NPFL champions Rangers International will fly the country’s flag in the CAF Champions League alongside runners-up Rivers United of Port Harcourt.

Also, Federation Cup winners FC IfeanyiUbah of Nnewi and League third place-finishers Wikki Tourists of Bauchi will campaign in the CAF Confederation Cup.

Rangers have proposed to make use of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu for their home matches, while Rivers United are opting for the Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Port Harcourt.

On their part, Wikki Tourists decided on the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium in Bauchi, while FC IfeanyiUbah will host their home matches at the Ifeanyi Ubah International Stadium in Nnewi.

NAN reports that first round first leg matches in this year’s African club competitions will take place on the weekend of Feb. 9 to Feb. 11.(NAN)
BAY/MOL/OLAL
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(Edited by Mustapha Lamidi and Olawale Alabi)