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Tag: RIvers United

  • CCC: Congolese side, Diable Noirs humiliate Rivers United 3-0

    CCC: Congolese side, Diable Noirs humiliate Rivers United 3-0

    NPFL defending champions Rivers United started their group stage campaign in the CAF Confederation Cup on a shaky note after being beaten 3-0 by Diable Noirs of Congo on Sunday on Sunday evening.

    It was a real disappointing evening from the lads from Rivers United as they conceded three goals in the first half of the encounter in Congo.

    They conceded so early in the encounter before Diable Noirs doubled their advantage two minutes later courtesy of a fine strike from Jaures Ngombe.

    Rivers United missed the chance to reduce the deficit when Ebube Duru failed to convert from the spot on 57 minutes.

    Stanley Eguma’s side will face Cote d’Ivoire’s ASEC Mimosa in their next game on Sunday, February 19.

    The coach of the Nigerian side, Stamley Eguma said that the game didn’t reflect the standard of the match, saying that his side gave a good account of themselves.

  • Osimhen, Oshoala, Rivers United, MTN among nominees for Nigeria Pitch Awards

    Osimhen, Oshoala, Rivers United, MTN among nominees for Nigeria Pitch Awards

    Super Eagles and Italian Serie A goal-king, Victor Osimhen and in-form FC Barcelona Femeni forward Asisat Oshoala top the list of nominees for the ninth edition of the Nigeria Pitch Awards scheduled to hold in the Federal Capital, Abuja on Friday, 24th March 2023.

    Osimhen, record scorer of the FIFA U17 World Cup finals (with 10 goals, achieved at the finals in Chile in 2015) has continued to bang in the goals in the Italian Serie A where he is current leading scorer, and scored four of Nigeria’s 10 goals in the record international win over Sao Tome and Principe last year summer.

    There are, in total, eighteen categories of awards, viz King of the Pitch; Queen of the Pitch; Striker of the Year; Goalkeeper of the Year; Defender of the Year; Midfielder of the Year; Team of the Year; Coach of the Year; Sam Okwaraji Award; State With The Best Grassroots Football Development Programme; Football Pitch of the Year; Football-Friendly Governor of the Year; Corporate Sponsor of the Year; Sportsmanship Award; Football Journalist of the Year-Print; Football Journalist of the Year-TV; Football Journalist of the Year-Radio and; Football Journalist of the Year-Online.

    Presenting the list of nominees to the NFF leadership on Thursday, President of Matchmakers Consult International (organizers of the Nigeria Pitch Awards), Mr. Shina Philips expressed appreciation to the NFF for its encouragement of the Awards over the years and assured that the fine canons of transparency and credibility that have taken the Awards this far will never be discountenanced for any reason.

    “We are happy with the encouragement and regard that we have continued to receive from the NFF since we started the Awards in 2013. The Federation has always been there and always present at the event. We are bold to say that the Awards will forever retain its integrity, transparency and credibility.”

    Responding on behalf of the NFF President, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau who joined the presentation on video to wish the organizers the best going forward, NFF Technical Director Augustine Eguavoen assured the Nigeria Pitch Awards of the Federation’s continued support as long as the tenets of integrity and credibility associated with the Awards over the years are sustained.

    Also present at the presentation were NFF’s Director of Communications, Ademola Olajire; Head of International, Dayo Enebi Achor and; Chief Operating Officer of the Nigeria Pitch Awards, Mr. Nelson Olafisoye.

  • CAF Cup: Mixed result for Nigerian clubsides, Rivers united qualify, Plateau crash out

    CAF Cup: Mixed result for Nigerian clubsides, Rivers united qualify, Plateau crash out

    Rivers United have made it to the group stage of the CAF confederations cup for the first time in their history courtesy of the 6-1 aggregate win against Al-Nasr of Libya.

    Rivers had already won the first leg at the Port Harcourt stadium by 5-0 before going to play a 1-1 draw in Libya on Wednesday night.

    The home side scored first in the encounter but the Port Harcourt-based side equalized to end the encounter 1-1 apiece.

    However, the other representative Plateau United had other ideas when the surrendered a 4-1 first leg advantage to lose 3-0 in Libya.

    Fidelis Ilechukwu-coached team held the home team goalless in the first half, supporters of the Jos-based team thought they would get into the group stage of the competition.

    The Peace Boys held their hosts to a barren draw in the first half, but the Libyans began to breach their defense in the 58th minute.

    Al Akhdar added a second goal in the 86th minute, while the third was deflected beyond the reach of Suraj Ayeleso, in goal for Plateau, in stoppage time, as the hosts claimed a 3-0 win.

    Three second half goals by Anas Al Werfalli, Mohammed Al Kista and Mostafa Hamza were enough to send Al Akhdar to the group stage of the competition thanks to away-goal rule.

    The result meant that the Jos based side will return to play in the abridged format of the Nigeria Professional Football League next season.

     

  • CAF Confederation Cup: Plateau United, Rivers United whitewash Libyan opponents

    CAF Confederation Cup: Plateau United, Rivers United whitewash Libyan opponents

    Plateau United Football Club on Wednesday in Abuja beat visiting Al Akhdar S.C. of Libya 4-1 in the first leg match of their 2022/2023 CAF Confederation Cup final playoff round fixture.

    The Jos-based side will visit the Libyan side on Nov. 9 for the second leg match.

    In the same competition and earlier in the day in Port Harcourt, Rivers United whipped Al Nasr, also of Libya 5-0.

    The result will definitely make the second leg game of Nov. 9 more comfortable for the reigning Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) champions.

     

    Details shortly…

  • CAF Cup: Rivers United demolish Libyan side Al Nasr 5-0

    CAF Cup: Rivers United demolish Libyan side Al Nasr 5-0

    Nigerian clubside, Rivers United pummeled Al Nasr of Libya by 5-0 in the first leg of their CAF Confederation Cup playoff encounter that held at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt on Wednesday.

    Rivers United started like a house on fire and  dominated the game from start to finish.

    Despite scoring five goals, the Port Harcourt side wasted many chances in the encounter.

    Left-back Ebube Duru gave the home team the lead from the spot on 12 minutes while Kazie Enyinnaya doubled the lead with a fine finish two minutes later.

    Rivers United continued to pile pressure on the visitors and were rewarded with another goal through Ghanaian midfielder, Paul Acquah a minute before half-time.

    On resumption of the second half , Duru scored another penalty to make it 4-0 in the 64th minute.

    The Port Harcourt club further increased their lead courtesy of a volley from Malachi Ohawume eight minutes later.

    The second leg will hold at the Martyrs Stadium, Benghazi in exactly one week time.

    Rivers united will proceed to the group stage of the confederations cup if they avoid a 6-0 defeat in Libya.

  • CAF Confederations: Egyptian officials for Rivers United, Al Nasr

    CAF Confederations: Egyptian officials for Rivers United, Al Nasr

    The Confederations cup first leg play-off clash between Rivers Untied of Nigeria and and Libya’s Al Nasr will be officiated by Egyptian officials Mohamed Maarouf Eid Mansour.

    Maarouf will serve as center referee for the clash next weekend.

    The announcement was made known by Confederation of African Football  (CAF) officials on Thursday in Cairo.

    The encounter is billed for the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt, next week Saturday.

    Eid Mansour, 35, will be assisted by his compatriot, Mohammed Abouzid Halhal ( assistant referee one) and Ahmed Hossam Eldin (assistant referee two). Mohammed Adel Said will serve as the fourth official.

    Sierra Leone’s Prince Kai Saquee will serve as match commissioner, while Gambia’s Mendy John will be the referee’s assessor. Ozi Salami will work as Covid-19 officer.

  • CAF Champions League: Nigerian champions, Rivers United hammered 6-0 by Wydad

    CAF Champions League: Nigerian champions, Rivers United hammered 6-0 by Wydad

    Defending Champions, Wydad Casablanca of Morocco, on Sunday hammered 10-man Rivers United 6-0 to progress to the 2022/2023 CAF Champions League with a 7-2 aggregate score.

    The Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) champions had won the first leg 2-1 in Port Harcourt, but failed to register a single goal in the second leg.

    Even a promise of US$40,000 per player bonus by Gov. Nyesom Wike failed to motivate the Nigerian players.

    The second-leg match played at the Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca saw Ayoub El Amloud open scoring for the hosts in the 33rd minute.

    Rivers United problems were compounded when their Ghanaian goalkeeper, Mutawakili Seidu, was sent off for an unsporting behaviour in his vital area four minutes later.

    Yahya Jabrane converted the resulting penalty to make it 2-0 for the hosts on the stroke of half time.

    Bouly Sambou scored a third in the 50th minute and added a fourth for his brace in the 58th minute.

    Jabrane also grabbed his brace and the fifth goal in 70th minute.

    Hamid Ahdad completed the rout for the Moroccans with a powerful header from close range in the 90th minute and sealed what was a miserable night to the visitors.

    The result meant that no Nigerian club would feature in the money-spinning group stage of the CAF Champions League.

    Rivers United will now join Jos-based Plateau United, who also dropped into the CAF Confederation Cup competition following their elimination.

    They will battle clubs in the playoff round to stand a chance of reaching the group stages of the cup competition.

    Both Rivers United and Plateau United will know their Confederation Cup playoff foes on Monday after the draws are conducted.

  • CAF Cup: Wydad Casablanca harass Rivers United, stop them from training

    CAF Cup: Wydad Casablanca harass Rivers United, stop them from training

    Reports from the camp of Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) champions, Rivers United says they have been prevented from leaving their hotel by Moroccan police officers ahead of their crucial return leg in the first round of the CAF Champions League.
    The Pride of Rivers who landed in Morocco in the late hours of Thursday had secured a facility for training this afternoon in preparation for the game. However, in the process of leaving for the training session, police officers restricted the players and officials of the team from leaving the hotel citing not getting clearance from the government, despite the facility being paid for.
    Rivers United are duly scheduled to train at the Mohammed V Stadium on Saturday as mandated by CAF, but, on a good account, the team has learned that they will be prevented from using the said facility tomorrow as well.
    The team has so far informed the Nigerian embassy in Morocco of this shocking development through the Nigeria Football Federation who has also informed the Confederation of African Football (CAF) while we wait for their response.

    Rivers United defeated the Moroccan side 2-1 at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt last week Sunday and are hoping to consolidate on the result in faraway Morocco.A 35-man contingent consisting of players and officials of the club arrived at the Mohamed V International Airport late Thursday night after a brief stopover in Cotonou, Benin Republic.

    Sunday’s encounter will hold at the 67,000-capacity Mohammed V Stadium, Casablanca at 7 pm Nigeria time.

    Recall that Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has promised to give $40,000 to each player if they make it to the group stage of the competition.

    The Nigerian side are hoping to qualify for the group stage of the CAF Champions League after many years of missing out by club sides in the country.

    Fidelis Ilechukwu tutored Plateau United are the other Nigerian representative in the competition and will also be hoping to consolidate on the 2-1 result advantage recorded at the MKO Abiola stadium in Abuja last week Sunday.

     

  • CAF Champions League: How Nigerian clubsides impressed

    CAF Champions League: How Nigerian clubsides impressed

    Nigeria  Professional Football  League (NPFL) Champions, Rivers United showed class over reigning CAF Champions League holders Wydad Casablanca in Port Harcourt on Sunday.

    The Port Harcourt-based side were 2-1 winners over the defending champions on Sunday.

    Motivated  by a $40,000-a-man promise by Governor Nyesom Wike  if they reach the group stage of Africa’s premier club competition, the Nigerian champions came from behind to grab the win, putting them in good stead for the return leg in the North African nation of Morocco.

    Senegalese forward, Sambou struck in the 32nd minute to give Wydad the lead. But Rivers United levelled the score line, just two minutes later via a Malachi Ohawume’s  goal.

    Rivers United forward, Paul Acquah scored in the 53rd minute to put the home side up and send the spectators at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt into wild jubilations.

    Similarly at the M.KO. Abiola Stadium,  Abuja, Plateau United conceded first against Esperance with Anice Badri finding the net after 27 minutes. Ifeanyi Emmanuel put the Peace Boys back on level terms seven minutes later as the Tunisians were unable to deal with Daniel Itodo’s long throw-in. On the stroke of half time, Mustapha Yuga put the home team ahead and that served as the winner of the thrilling encounter.

    Recall that Nigeria’s only representative in the CAF confederations cup Kwara United also defeated RS berkane or Morocco by 3-1 in Lagos to put one leg in the group stage.

    All the reverse fixtures will be played next weekend away from homes.

     

  • CAF CL: Governor Wike promises to give Rivers United Player $40,000 each if they qualify to group stage

    CAF CL: Governor Wike promises to give Rivers United Player $40,000 each if they qualify to group stage

    Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike has promised to give each player of Rivers United the sum of $40,000 if they reach the group stage of the CAF Champions League.

    Stanley Eguma’s side will face defending Wydad Casablanca of Morocco in the first leg of their first-round tie in Port Harcourt on Sunday.

    The reverse fixture is billed for Casablanca next weekend.

    The overall winner of the encounter will proceed to the group stage of the competition.

    Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike rewarded each player with $20,000 for winning the Nigerian league for the first time in their history in June and now has now promised a fresh $40,000.

    The Port Harcourt club are looking to become the second Nigerian club to win the CAF Champions League after Enyimba conquered the continent in 2003 and 2004.

    Plateau United are the other Nigerian club competing in the competition this year.

    Kwara united is the only NPFL side competing in the Confederations cup after Remo Stars got booted out by FAR Morocco in the second round of the qualifying process.