Nigerian Football
Continentally Dried Rivers Look for Local Rejuvenation
BY SAMMY WEJINYA.
For the first time in 2017, Rivers United prepare to prosecute a domestic football game with the knowledge that their exertions in inter CAF clubs competition have come to an end.
This Wednesday, the ‘Pride of Rivers’ will face high-flying MFM FC in a rearranged fixture in Port Harcourt knowing that any result other than an outright win will set the cat amongst the Pigeons in their quest to leave the drop zone in this season’s Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).
United lost the reverse fixture 1-2 at the Agege Stadium, Lagos on March 22 and will be keen to take their pound of flesh off the Lagos club.
Head coach of MFM FC, Fidelis Ilechukwu insists that United are favourites for a win on Wednesday.
“We come to Port Harcourt for a very tough game against a side with continental experience,” he told our official website, www.riversunitedfc.com.ng.
“It will be a game to be enjoyed (by the spectators) because the two sides play good football. MFM is a young team and we will be coming with the mind set of learning from a side that is obviously more experienced than us,” he said.
MFM is a fluid and wonderfully-effective side that can punish opposition sides in a heartbeat and that is largely responsible for them punching above their weight in the division this season.
The play a direct style with quick passing and effective finishing, a factor hinged on supremely-talented individuals at the tip of their attacking spear – Sikiru Olatubosun and the league’s top marksman, Stephen Odey – ‘the Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi of Nigerian football’ as Ilechukukwu puts it.
Folarin Abayomi, Stanley Okorom, Monsuru Bashiru, Jonathan Zikiye and Austin Opara are the defensive foundations on which the MFM project is built.
Tchato Gischard, Shola Brossa, Austin Ogunye and Onuwa Chukwuka Onuwa are also important personnel who are sure to put in an important shift in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.
United will have to produce one big effort to win at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium against opposition that will be looking to amass maximum point to close the gap on the leaders, Plateau United to just two points.
Enugu Rangers on Sunday beat Plateau United 2-0 to hold on at the top of the Nigeria Premier League. They extended their point haul to 57, two points ahead of their Oriental brothers, Enyimba who also beat Katsina United 1-0 to keep the chase for the title very hot.
Initial second placed team, Remo Stars dropped to the third position but still in contention for either the title, but at worse a continental ticket for next season.
Following Shooting Stars 2-0 defeat of Sunshine Stars in a South West derby, the top four positions of the are now held by the South East and South West as the league gets into its closing stage.
While Rangers and Enyimba are first and second at the moment, Remo Stars, though with an outstanding home game are third while their fellow westerners, Shooting Stars are fourth.
The weekend’s results:
Rivers United 2-0 Katsina United
Remo Stars 3-0 Niger Tornadoes
Doma United 0-0 Kwara United
Bendel Insurance 1-0 Heartland
Enugu Rangers 2-0 Plateau United
Shooting Stars 2-0 Sunshine Stars
Akwa United 3-0 Kano Pillars
Enyimba 1-0 Katsina United
Gombe United 3-2 Lobi Stars
Sporting Lagos 4-2 Abia Warriors
Remo Stars on Friday inch closer to achieving their first ever title in the Nigeria elite division league after beating visiting Niger Tornadoes 3-0 to move second on the log and just a point behind league leaders, Enugu Rangers.
Remo Stars are now with 53 points and still have an outstanding home game to play.
Friday’s win which comes on the eve of the proprietor’s birthday has put the team back into contention for the title.
They have progressively become prominent in the Nigerian premier league having placed third two seasons ago and second last season.
Top finish this season will confirm their progression and also a third consecutive continental outing.
Top scorer, Sikiru Alimi launched them of victory path as his 28th minute penalty kick heralded their return to high scoring ways.
It has been a while since they scored high in the league. Barely three minutes later, Sikiru, a contender for the top scorer award increased the tally to two.
Ahmed Akinyele completed the route in the 75th minute.
Nigerian Football
Nigeria face tough defence as Burkina Faso lie in wait at U17 WAFU B AFCON qualifiers
Defending champions Nigeria have been handed a difficult path to the 2025 U17 Africa Cup of Nations finals after being drawn in the same group as Burkina Faso for next month’s WAFU B qualifying tournament in Ghana.
The Golden Eaglets, who won the last edition of the regional championship in 2022, will also face Togo and Niger in Group B of the competition which runs from 15-28 May.
Hosts Ghana find themselves in Group A alongside Cote d’Ivoire and Benin in a tough-looking section of the competition to be played in Accra.
The draw was conducted by 1970s Ivorian football legends Kobenan Kouman and Die Foneye at the Ivorian FA headquarters in Abidjan on Friday.
Nigeria claimed their WAFU B U17 AFCON title by defeating Burkina Faso 2-1 in the regional final in Ghana two years ago.
However, they will need to overcome some familiar foes if they are to defend their crown and with the Burkina Faso finishing third at the last TotalEnergies U17 Africa Cup of Nations, some exciting matches are expected.
Arch-rivals Nigeria and Ghana are among the two favourites and could meet in the final in Accra on 28 May, should they top their respective groups and make it through the semi-finals.
Ghana also have pedigree at this level, having the World Cup in 1991 and 1995 as they bid to reach the U17 AFCON finals on home soil.
The top two teams from the WAFU B tournament will qualify for next year’s U17 Africa Cup of Nations.
Groups:
Group A: Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Benin
Group B: Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Togo, Niger.
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