NPFL Match Preview: Rivers United vs EL -Kanemi Warriors ( Rivers United won 1-0 in the First meeting in Port Harcourt)

By Chinedu Laurel Okorodike  
Follow me on Twitter via @laureldpundit
and Instagram via @laureldpundit


Its not looking good for the Maiduguiri Warriors as they have a battle on their hands to escape relegation with nine games to go before the season comes to an end. They've been imperious at home, but very abject on the road which was clearly evident in their 3-0 spanking at the hands of Nassarawa United last week Saturday, culminating in their current precarious situation. 

This weekend, they take on the league's third best team, Rivers United. The Port-Hacourt based side were scheduled to take on whipping boys Ikorodu United last week but were halted as a road accident on their way home from Ibadan, venue of their Federeations Cup quarter-finals defeat to Enyimba saw the game postponed. They lost their last league game prior to that, which was a 1-0 defeat to Sunshine Stars FC in Akure. Coach Stanley Eguma will be hoping his boys can bounce back here by getting a result to inject life into their League title bid. 

They trail leaders Enugu Rangers by four points, albeit, with two games in hand and a positive result here would put pressure on the leaders and a win will likely move up one ‎place up into 2nd position. The likes of Onoachom and Bata will be ‎seeking to get the goals for the Warriors. Rivers could find it difficult to score as El-Kanemi doesn't concede too many goals at home. 

EL-KANEMI WARRIORS STATISTIC  

They are currently placed Sixteen on the NPFL log  

They have picked up 11 wins from 27 matches played so far.

They have lost 13 times so far in their away matches this season in the NPFL, and Two times at home this season.

They are yet to win an away game in the NPFL so far this season 

They have won 11 times at home this season.

They have drawn once at home this season and none away 

They have conceded 6 goals while playing at home this season and a whooping 28 goals while playing away from home.

They have scored 25 goals while playing at home this season and 9 goals while playing away from home.

Their biggest win this season was defeating El- Kanemi Warriors 3-0 at home

Their biggest loss this season was losing to Lobi stars and Akwa United 3-0 and 3-1 respectively away from home.

They have failed to score in nine away games and one home games

They have kept nine Clean sheets at home and none away from home this season.

Rivers United statistic 

They are currently placed third on the NPFL table.

They have picked up 14 wins from 26 matches played so far.

They have lost Ten times so far in their away matches this season in the NPFL, and have never lost at home this season.

They have won two away games in the NPFL which was against Ikorodu United and Warri Wolves

They have conceded 2 goals while playing at home this season and a whooping 18 goals while playing away from home.

They have scored 19 goals while playing at home this season and a whooping 9 goals while playing away from home.

Their biggest win this season was defeating MFM 4-1 at home.

Their biggest loss this season was losing to IfeanyiUba 2-0 away from home.

They have failed to score in SEVEN away games and One home game this season.

They have kept thirteen Clean sheets ( Eleven at home and two away)

 Match refs

Ibrahim Isiyaku 

1: Moses Ojo 

2: Adedeji Adebayo 

4TH OFFICIAL: A. Abdulrazak

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Bosso talks tough ahead Rivers United clash

Ladan Bosso, Head Coach of Nigeria Professional Football League side, El-Kanemi Warriors is talking tough as his team gets set to face Rivers United this weekend.

Bosso whose Maiduguri club have been flawless at home this season said he expects nothing short of a win over United this term.

“We are going for all three points on Saturday. In as much as we respect the big sides in the league, we do not fear them and that is why we are undefeated against all big sides in Maiduguri this season.

“Rivers United must be prepared to lose to us on Saturday,” he said.

Indeed, no side has escaped defeat at the El-Kanemi Sports Complex in Maiduguri this term while it is also on record that only MFM FC have scored in Maiduguri this season as El-Kanemi kept clean sheets in all their previous league games there this term.

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NPFL WEEK 29 REVIEW: NASSARAWA UNITED VS EL-KANEMI ( El-Kanemi won 3-0 in the First meeting )

A battle of two teams with poor away record.

By Chinedu Laurel Okorodike  
Follow me on Twitter via @laureldpundit
and Instagram via @laureldpundit


Nassarawa United go into this game after picking up their first away point in an entertaining 2-2 draw against struggling Ikorodu United last week. The Lafia based side are coming into this game after producing an upset in the Federations Cup by defeating holders Akwa United 1-0 in the quarter finals. 


Head to Head

They are currently placed 9th, and with no relegation dogfight hovering over them, they can now focus towards moving up the upper echelons of the league table. On the other hand, El-Kanemi Warriors are in desperate need of points coming into this game. 

The Maiduguiri based side are poor travellers which is a stark contrast compared to their impeccable home record. They sit a point above the relegation zone and need to start accumulating points to starve off relegation fight. They weren't in action last week as they were scheduled to play Giwa FC who had been expulled long ago. Its hard to look beyond a home victory here.

Nassarawa United statistic 

They are currently placed ninth on the NPFL table.

They have picked up 12 wins from 26 matches played.

They are yet to pick up an away win losing 13 times away 

They have the second Joint home record after Rivers United. They have lost once at home which was against MFM. They lost that game 2-1.

At home they have conceded 9 goals while away from home they have conceded a whooping 24 goals.

Their biggest win this season was defeating Sunshine Stars 3-0 at home.

Their biggest loss this season was losing to EL-KANEMI 3-0 away from home

They have failed to score in 8 away games and have scored in all its home games this season.

Nassarawa United last five matches

 El-Kanemi warriors statistic 

They are currently placed Thirteen on the NPFL table.

They have picked up 11 wins from 26 matches played.

They are yet to pick up an away win losing 12 times away 

They have the third Joint home record after Rivers United and Nassarawa United. They have lost twice at home which was against MFM. They lost that game 2-1.

At home they have conceded 6 goals while away from home they have conceded a whooping 25 goals.

Their biggest win this season was defeating Nassarawa United 3-0 at home.

Their biggest loss this season was losing to Lobi Stars 3-0 at home. 

They have failed to score in eight away games and one home game  this season.

 El-Kanemi warriors last five matches

My Prediction: Nassarawa United 2-0 El-Kanemi Warriors.

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