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Tag: RIvers United

  • NPFL: Liberian star, Korvah puts pen to paper for Rivers United

    NPFL: Liberian star, Korvah puts pen to paper for Rivers United

    The Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) champions, Rivers United have announced the signing of Liberia winger, Albert Korvah on a three-year contract.

    Korvah linked up with Rivers United from Liberia top-flight club, Watanga FC.

    The Liberian winger was spotted during the CAF Champions League clash between Rivers United and Watanga FC earlier in the month.

    Rivers United won the tie 3-1 on aggregate but Korvah was a thorn in the flesh of their defenders in the two-legged contest.

    He is expected to link up with the Port Harcourt club in time for their CAF Champions first round clash against Wydad Casablanca of Morocco.

    The first leg will hold next week Sunday at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt.

    Rivers United won the NPFL title for the first time last season and are looking to become the second Nigerian club to lift the CAF Champions League trophy.

    Enyimba Football Club of Nigeria last won the tournament in 2003 after defeating Etoile duSahel of Tunisia 5-4 on penalties.

  • Continental Football: Three Nigerian teams progress, Remo Stars lose

    Continental Football: Three Nigerian teams progress, Remo Stars lose

    Three out of four Nigerian club sides are through to the next round of CAF competitions on the continent.

    Rivers United lost 0-1 to Watanga of Liberia but qualified for the next stage of the CAF Champions League after defeating the same opponent in the first leg 3-0.

    Farsedu Logan scored the only goal of the game from the spot on 16 minutes.

    Stanley Eguma’s side will face Wydad Casablanca of Morocco in the first round on October 7th.

    The country’s other representative in the CAF Champions League, Plateau United also scaled through to the next after a 1-0 win against Stade Mandji of Gabon at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja.

    Haggai Katoh netted the winning goal for the home team in the 63rd minute.

    Fidelis Ilechukwu’s side won the tie 3-2 on aggregate.

    They will slug it out with Tunisia’s Esperance in the second round of the Champions League qualification series.

    Kwara United is the last Nigerian club side to book a place in the second round of the confederations cup after playing out a goalless draw with AS Douanes of Niger Republic.

    The Ilorin-based club side had already won 3-0 in the first leg of the encounter to progress on a 3-0 aggregate scoreline.

    They will battle Berkane of Morocco in the second round of the competition.

    However, Remo stars of Ogun state failed to secure qualification after losing 0-1 to FAR of Morocco at the Remo Stars stadium.

    The result meant just three Nigerian teams will progress to the next round of the competition.

  • Rivers United, Kwara United win big in CAF competitions

    Rivers United, Kwara United win big in CAF competitions

    One of Nigeria’s representatives on the continent, Rivers United thrashed visiting Watanga FC of Liberia 3-0 in the first leg of the CAF  Champions League encounter at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt on Sunday.

    Plateau United striker, Kenechukwu Agu scored in the 8th minute before the goal was doubled on the 18th minute.

    Black Stars of Ghana defender, Paul Acquah added the third goal in first minute of added time to put the game beyond the reach of the Liberians.

    All three goals came in the first half of the game.

    Meanwhile Nigeria Representative in the CAF confederations cup, Kwara United secured a home win after defeating AS Douanes of Niger Republic by 3-0 .

    Kwara United will play the return leg of the encounter in Niger Republic in a forthnight.

    Earlier Plateau United secured one point after playing out a 2-2 drae with Gabonese side AS Manji.

  • NPFL: Wike gifts Rivers United Players $20,000 each for winning the league

    NPFL: Wike gifts Rivers United Players $20,000 each for winning the league

    The sport-loving governor of Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has gifted each player of Rivers United $20,000 for winning the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL)

    The players have also been promised a two-week vacation for pre-season training in Madrid Spain, ahead of their CAF Champions League engagement.

    Players, coaches, and management of the club were also conferred with the state’s ‘Governor Medal Service Award.’

    Wike made the promise during a reception at the Government House, Port Harcourt on Thursday when receiving the players and their management. He acknowledged the team’s sacrifice, determination, and hard work throughout the 2021/22 season.

    “Each of you will go home with $20,000. For me, you deserve more than that, but because of the economy. If not, you deserve more than this.

    “You have done well, and let me tell you if you qualify in the group stage of this CAF (Confederation of African Football) competition, we will double it for you,” the statement quoted the Governor as saying.

    Meanwhile, Wike has directed the state’s Commissioner of Sports, Chris Green, to arrange for a two-week training session for Rivers United in Madrid.

    The Governor explained that the government and people of Rivers were delighted that the club won the coveted NPFL trophy.

    Wike thanked the players for winning the league with as many as 10 points, saying they made it very difficult for anyone to rob them of their success.

    “I am not surprised because I saw your dedication and commitment and I knew that he who works hard, God will always give him the support to emerge victorious,” Wike added.

    The Governor also urged the players to start preparing for the CAF Champions League next season.

    “You need to be prepared psychologically to face other competitors. We are talking about Africa, not West Africa. So, you have such a huge task.

    “You must be prepared to achieve. And so, on our own as government, we must do everything humanly possible to encourage you,” he stated

    The Rivers State Commissioner of Sports, Chris Green, explained that Rivers United did not only win the league season in style, but they also broke all the records.

    Green, who attributed the team’s victory to the governor’s immense support, said the club had the first and third highest goal scorers, best coach, and goalkeeper in the league.

  • Rivers United make history, emerge champions of Nigerian League

    Rivers United make history, emerge champions of Nigerian League

    The Nigeria Professional Football League(NPFL) season 2021/2022  ended Sunday with Rivers United crowned as champions. Rivers United defeated Gombe United by 1-0 to wrap up the league with a victory. They finished with 77 points with a plus 34 goal difference and will be representing the country in the CAF Champions League for next season.

    Plateau United defeated Enyimba 1-0 to finish second and also grab a spot in the CAF Champions League for next season.

    Remo Stars finished 3rd and will compete in the CAF Confederation Cup next season for the first time in their history.

    The Ikenne-based club defeated Niger Tornadoes 3-0 at home to ward off the threat of Kwara United.

    Andy Okpe scored a hat-trick for the Remo Stars in the game.

    Meanwhile, Katsina United and Heartland have now joined already relegated Kano Pillars and MFM FC, they will feature in the NNL next season.

    Katsina United, who lost 2-0 to Wikki Tourists in Bauchi, finished in the 17th position on the table.

    Heartland finished in 18th position despite beating Kwara United 1-0 at the Okigwe Township Stadium.

     

    Below is the  Results of Last Match Day

    Heartland 1-0 Kwara Utd
    Remo Stars 3-0 Tornadoes
    Dakka 3-0 Sunshine Stars
    Plateau Utd 1-0 Enyimba
    Wikki 2-0 Katsina Utd
    Abia Warriors 3-0 Lobi
    Rangers 2-0 Akwa Utd
    Rivers Utd 1-0 Gombe Utd
    Kano Pillars 2-1 3SC
    MFM 0-1 Nasarawa Utd

  • Rivers United win Nigeria Professional Football League

    Rivers United Football club have emerged champions of the 2021/22 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) making it the first time the Rivers based football club will be winning the title.

    Rivers united have won the title with four games to spare in the current season NPFL season.

    Their emergence as champions comes after second placed Plateau United suffered a 2-1 loss to Akwa United in Uyo ending their mathematical hopes of winning the NPFL title.

    The defeat was Plateau’s fifth consecutive away defeat this season.

    Akwa United took an early lead in the 12th minute from David Onovo’s finish to Adam Yakubu’s assist. Five minutes after conceding, Plateau United blew up a chance from Andrew Ikefe to restore parity after he failed to connect from Haggai Katoh’s set-piece.

    Plateau United eventually got an equaliser in the second half from Jesse Akila’s effort in the 52nd minute.

    But when the visitors must have thought they had secured a draw, Leo Ezekiel scored from Akpesiri’s pass in the third minute of added time.

    Akwa United stays in seventh place with 51 points while Plateau United maintain their second spot with 61 points.

    Rivers United Football Club is a professional football club based in Port Harcourt, Rivers State that participates in the Nigerian Professional Football League, the highest level of domestic Nigerian football. The club was formed by the merger of Sharks F.C. and Dolphins F.C. in 2016
  • NPFL 2019/2020 season: We finished second, not third – Rivers United insists

    NPFL 2019/2020 season: We finished second, not third – Rivers United insists

    Rivers United Football Club of Port Harcourt on Sunday said they were still not agreeing with the League Management Company (LMC) on the 2019/2020 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) final table.
    Okey Kpalakwu, the club’s General Manager, disclosed this position in a statement, insisting that the club remained the team which finished in second place by the end of the season.
    “The NPFL final table circulated in the media space placed Plateau United, Enyimba and Rivers United in the first, second and third places respectively.
    “In that table, Rivers United and Enyimba were tied on the same number of points.
    “But a totally strange/inconclusive head-to-head consideration, affected by the same force majeure, was used to place Enyimba in the second position.
    “Nothing can be further from the truth, because such consideration can only exist in the imagination of those peddling the fake table.
    “For emphasis and to inform discerning members of the public, we have what is internationally known and even in the rule books of LMC.
    “This indicates that points are the first basis of separating teams, followed by goal difference, before head-to-head,” he said.
    According to Kpalakwu, the Points Per Game (PPG) model adopted by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and LMC is a straight-forward co-efficient.
    He said this is a way of dividing the total number of points with the total number of matches played as at when the league was suspended.
    “This is in order to guarantee fairness to clubs that played less number of matches.
    “With the application of PPG , all teams are now measured equally, erasing the scenario of whether or not any club played higher number of matches than the other,” the club official added.
    The Rivers United General Manager argued that separating the tie by goal difference was to divide number of goals scored by number of matches played to arrive at a co-efficient.
    He emphasised that, based on this, it was obvious that Rivers United were the second-placed team and no amount of false narratives would deceive those who should know.
    “We have already made our position known to the NFF and LMC and we expect that justice will be served without fear or favour.”
    Kpalakwu however warned that the Port Harcourt club may be compelled to explore all legitimate means available.
    ”This may include formal petitions to the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA), the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Court of Arbitration in Sports (CAS) to ventilate our grievances and press for justice,” he said.
  • NPFL: Plateau United defeat Rivers United in Jos

    NPFL: Plateau United defeat Rivers United in Jos

    Plateau United FC of Jos has defeated Rivers United FC 1-0 in the week 18 encounter of the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL).
    The match played on Sunday at the Zaria Road Stadium, Jos, produced the lone goal scored against Rivers FC by Mustapha Ibrahim, seven minutes into the match.
    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the encounter was fierce as both teams were on top of their game.
    Speaking immediately after the match, Plateau United Technical Adviser, Mr Abdul Maikaba, commended his team for winning the match.
    He said the outcome of the match had helped his team to push down both Lobi Stars and Rivers United and assume the top position on the table.
    “I told my players that the match was going to be very difficult and we had to stand firm to win.
    “I am happy with the outcome and the manner in which my boys played. This has made us to use one stone to kill two birds.
    “With this win, we were able to push down Lobi Stars and Rivers United; we are now topping the table.
    “So, it is good but we must work harder to consolidate on the result by winning more matches,” Maikaba said.
    He assured fans of Plateau United and Plateau people that the team would do better in its subsequent matches, particularly the away encounters.
    On his part, Chief Coach of Rivers United, Mr Stanley Eguma, commended his boys for the way they played, adding that Plateau United was a team to beat.
    He said his team would not be discouraged by the result of the match, saying that its target was to get to the top.
    “We have played a very good site today, and my boys played well. It is however unfortunate that we lost.
    “But our target is to get to the top and we will do everything possible to get there,” Eguma said.