Nigerian Football
PROFLIGATE RIVERS UNITED CHANGED COURSE IN NNEWI
BY SAMMY WEJINYA.
Rivers United
frittered a plethora of chances in Sunday’s 0-1 loss to FC Ifeanyiubah (FCIU)
in Nnewi as the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) entered Match Day
three.
Drissa Bamba got his first start of the season as the United Technical Manager,
Stanley Eguma elected to throw the flamboyant goalkeeper into the deep end
against his former club at his old stomping ground.
Zoumana Doumbia, Ishaq Rafiu, Michael Gopey and Chigozie Ihunda completed five
changes to the side that drew 1-1 with Heartland in Port Harcourt on November
10 as Abiodun Akande, Malachi Ohawume, Michael Enaruna, Lookman Binuyor and
Kunle Odunlami all made way for the season’s debutant starters.
The wholesale changes seemed to affect the usual fluidity of the ‘Pride of
Rivers’ as the hosts quickly took the initiative.
Chibuike Eze dazzled his way into the United box in the second minute but his
feeble shot was stopped effortlessly by Bamba before the visitors stormed down
the other end and almost took the lead.
Cletus Emotan’s expertly-delivered corner a minute later was met by a
well-placed header by Michael Gopey but the FCIU goalkeeper, Sharp Uzoigwe
displayed sharp reflexes to tip the goal-bound effort away for a corner.
Then came a moment of horror for the visitors.
Chigozie Chilekwu made the most of a lapse in concentration by United and
smacked home Jimoh Gbadamosi’s visionary pass with frightening force into the
bottom corner in the seventh minute.
That represented the end of the scoring of a rip-roaring contest that could
have easily produced no less than half a dozen goals.
United improved marginally after the early set back with the trio of Gopey,
Ishaq and Ossy Martins all causing problems for the FCIU backline for the rest
of the half.
The next clear-cut goal scoring opportunity however fell to the home side and
it would have been a carbon copy of the opening goal had Sabastian Uche
displayed a little bit more composure to his powerful strike, off an
enthralling team move, on the half hour.
United almost equalized three minutes before the interval but desperate goal
line clearances remarkably denied Martins, Ishaq and Shuji Oshobe within
seconds of each other.
The thinking among some, that the FCIU goal was living a charmed life, was
ruthlessly underlined in a second half dominated by the visitors.
Five minutes after the restart, United shockingly failed to take the lead after
Gopey astonishingly missed an open goal from six yards following a mix up in
the FCIU defence between Chilekwu and Uzoigwe.
Martins had a great chance to draw United level when he found himself unmarked
at the edge of the area but curled his right-footed effort just wide.
The alarm bells were and truly tolling at this point as United sensing that
their hosts were on the ropes, honed in for the kill.
Three minutes after Martins missed the gilt-edged opportunity to level matters,
United won a free kick, 25 yards out.
Ishaq took the set piece it well enough and but it deflected off the head of
Charles Okafor and against the cross bar.
It was the closest the fast-improving United had come to getting on the board
but they did not flag with newly-introduced substitutes, Nelson Esor and Bright
Onyedikachi making inroads and finding plenty of joy down the wings.
The hosts had by this stage, been pinned deep into their half as they defended
for their lives but a rare raid upfront, on the break, almost caught United
napping.
Sabastian connected well-enough with Ekene Awaziem’s devilish delivery and with
Bamba in no Man’s land, the effort crept agonizingly wide as the sparse horde
of travelling support heaved a collective sigh of relief.
Then came the turning point of the game, in the 65th minute, when Onyedikachi
missed a gaping goal from close range with Uzoigwe badly misplaced following
good work by Emotan on the far side.
Even though United dominated the rest of the half and created several more
dangerous moments, Onyedikachi’s miss seemed to knock the stuffing out of a
United side that have still yet to score from open play after three attempts
this term.
“My players need to be clinical upfront. It is disturbing that we are
dominating matches but not scoring goals,” Eguma told the club’s official
website, www.riversunitedfc.com.ng.
Head coach of FCIU, Uche Okagbue also shared his post-match sentiments.
“It was a good match and we thank God,” he said.
United currently occupy 15th position in the NPFL standings with two points
from three games while FCIU are in third place with seven points from a
possible nine.
Next up for the Pride of Rivers is the onerous task of stopping Enugu Rangers
in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, November 20 as the competition enters Match Day
Four.
Rivers United head coach and technical manager, Finidi George, has praised young defender Ochiobi Elias following his outstanding performance in the club’s hard-fought 1-0 victory over Niger Tornadoes in a rescheduled Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) fixture on Wednesday at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt.
The left-back, who played the full 90 minutes, was instrumental in helping Rivers United maintain a clean sheet, marking one of his most confident outings since his promotion to the senior squad.
Finidi, visibly impressed after the match, revealed that his decision to give Elias a full game was driven by trust in the player’s potential, despite his limited minutes earlier in the season.
“I think he did well. Normally, we should have been bringing him in gradually — maybe 15 minutes before giving him a 90-minute match,” Finidi said. “But I trust him, and I’ve spoken to him. He should be relaxed, calm down, and play his football.”
The coach also highlighted a near-miss moment when Elias came close to scoring late in the game, a chance Finidi felt could have crowned his stellar performance.
“I think today he would have scored a goal at the last moment, but he still wanted to square the ball, look for somebody,” Finidi added. “I’m quite happy with his performance, and we will keep encouraging him to do better. I am very, very pleased.”
Elias, a product of the Rivers United youth team that won the NPFL Youth League in 2024, has been gradually integrated into the first team under Finidi’s guidance. His performance on Wednesday is seen as a major step forward in his development and a sign of his growing confidence.
The youngster is now expected to retain his place in the squad as Rivers United travel to Aba this Sunday for a crucial NPFL clash against Enyimba.
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Strategic partners of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on the President Federation Cup, GTI Group, have congratulated the football governing body on the successful hosting of its Annual General Meeting (AGM) held last weekend in Ibadan, Oyo State.
In a press statement issued on Friday in Lagos, GTI’s Head of Media and Publicity, Andrew Ekejiuba, lauded the NFF Board under the leadership of Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau for the smooth conduct of the AGM and the significant progress made in Nigerian football development.
According to Ekejiuba, the Ibadan meeting reflected Gusau’s commitment to engaging stakeholders and strengthening unity across the football ecosystem.
“GTI Group congratulates the Nigeria Football Federation on the successful outcome of its Annual General Meeting held in Ibadan, which the President of NFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, used the occasion to demonstrate his commitment to engaging positively with football stakeholders, including state football associations, clubs and fans,” he said.
“His interactions with the various groups at the AGM showcased his impactful leadership and dedication to promoting Nigerian football and fostering a collaborative environment.”
Ekejiuba also highlighted the Super Falcons’ recent achievements and the growth of domestic competitions, particularly the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), as key milestones recorded under Gusau’s leadership. GTI serves as a strategic partner of the NPFL, supporting its structural and commercial transformation.
The statement further expressed appreciation to Governor Seyi Makinde and the people of Oyo State for their hospitality and support during the AGM. Ekejiuba noted the governor’s commendation of the improved standard of refereeing in the NPFL under the administration of Otunba Gbenga Elegbeleye.
However, GTI also used the opportunity to express disappointment over the early exit of Kwara United and Abia Warriors from the CAF Confederation Cup, urging Nigerian clubs to raise their competitive standards on the continental stage.
“It is unfortunate that both Kwara United and Abia Warriors crashed out at the preliminary phase of the CAF Confederation Cup last weekend. This clearly shows that Nigerian clubs must raise their game in order to compete favourably,” the statement read.
“The future remains bright, but that is why GTI has been calling on Corporate Nigeria to invest more in our football, just as is done in thriving leagues across the world.”
Ekejiuba also extended words of encouragement to Remo Stars and Rivers United, who are still flying Nigeria’s flag in the CAF Champions League.
“We encourage them to dig deep and remain focused to ensure successful campaigns. They should give Nigerian football fans something to cheer this season because we understand how demanding continental competitions can be,” he concluded.
GTI Group reaffirmed its continued commitment to working closely with the NFF to advance football development, promote professionalism, and attract sustainable investment into the Nigerian game.
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The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has queried Warri Wolves following reports of the suspension of their head coach, Aluma Napoleon, faulting the club’s failure to comply with established procedures for contracting and registering technical officials.
In a letter titled “Notarization and Registration of Contracts” and signed by the NPFL Chief Operating Officer, Davidson Owumi, the league body directed the Delta-based club to regularize all contractual documentation with its technical and management staff in line with NPFL regulations.
The NPFL’s letter stated:
“Information reaching us from the media space suggests that the Delta State Sports Commission has suspended your head coach, Mr. Aluma Napoleon, with immediate effect.”
Citing Sections B, Articles 6 and 11 of the NPFL 2025/26 Framework and Rules, the league reminded Warri Wolves that all clubs are required to submit notarized contracts of their officials for registration and record purposes.
“You are, however, in breach of these sections as Warri Wolves FC have not submitted the contracts of its officials to the League Board. You are hereby requested, within twenty-four hours of receiving this letter, to submit all relevant contracts of your technical team, including that of the assumed suspended head coach, Mr. Napoleon Aluma, to the NPFL Secretariat,” the letter warned.
The NPFL further cautioned that failure to comply could lead to sanctions, including restricting Warri Wolves’ technical crew from accessing the bench in subsequent league matches.
“Note that failure to comply with this instruction will lead to the restriction of your technical team from accessing the technical area in future NPFL matches,” the league stated.
In a related statement to NPFL Media, COO Davidson Owumi stressed that the Warri Wolves case was not isolated, adding that all clubs yet to register the contracts of their technical officials must do so without delay.
“I must admonish all coaches to get hold of their contracts and lodge a report with the NPFL when there is a violation of the terms. It is the responsibility of the aggrieved to petition the league at all times,” Owumi emphasized.
The NPFL has been tightening administrative controls in recent seasons to ensure transparency, professionalism, and adherence to contractual obligations across all participating clubs.
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