Match Report: Rivers United exacerbate Heartland of Owerri tribulations

By Chinedu Laurel Okorodike 
Follow me on Twitter via @laureldpundit


Rivers United fielded a full strength team which included their star man Bernard Ovoke who just returned from trials with Lillestrom in Norway. The home side wasted no time in making their intentions known as they almost drew the first blood in the 6th minute as Obomate almost scored but the ball hit the side netting.

Guy Kumian almost gave Rivers United the lead as he attempted a spectacular volley but the went over the bar. moments later Chinonso Okonkwo struck from the edge of the box but Heartland goalkeeper Ebele Obi did well to tip the ball over the bar.

Heartland's Jika Abubakar almost gave Heartland the lead via a free kick as the ball deceived Rivers United goalkeeper Sunday Rotimi only for it to hit the upright bar.

The heavens opened as the rains started but that did not deter Rivers United from taking the lead via Christian Weli as he headed home a Guy Kuemian beautiful cross. 

Heartland almost responded with the equalizer but Rivers United goalkeeper Sunday Rotimi showed classed to deny Heartland's Gabriel Ebute

In the 41st minute returnee Bernard Ovoke was brought down as he went on his trademark run. He converted the free kick but missed it like a school boy.

Coach Ransom Madu of Heartland  made the first substitution of the game as he introduced former Rivers United player Emeka Atuloma for Roland Koffi and Emeka Ogbugh for Gabriel Ebute. 

Coach Stanley Eguma of Rivers United made his own substitution as Onyekachi Okafor came in For Returnee Bernard Ovoke.

It was a ding dong affair as the two side struggled to take the chances that came their way with Rivers United Onyekachi Okafor the highest culprit.

Coach Stanley Eguma threw in Ofem Inah for Fredrick Obomate with the hope to get that all important second goal.

Minutes later Onyekachi Okafor missed a glorious chance to make it 2-0 but he missed it despite having just the goalkeeper to beat.

Coach Eguma brought in Victor Alegbe for but he had little impart as Rivers United held on foe a win which catapulted them to top spot. As for Heartland players they left the field showing signs of despondency. 

Stats

Shots: 8-6
On Target: 3-2 
Fouls Won: 18-19
Corners: 5-2
Offside: 2-2
Yellow: 0-1
Red: 0-0
Possession: 51%-49%


Gallary

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Players and Officials of Remo Stars attacked during NNL match

Players and officials of Nigeria National League side, Remo Stars were attacked today by supporters of Prime FC during their Nigeria National League match played today. The attack left some players of the club injured including Daniel Okorie who was stabbed by a supporter of Prime FC with an iron like Object.

Some officials of Remo Stars were also held hostage by the fans of Prime FC in the stadium. It took the intervention of the police to rescue the Players from the supporters. The police escorted the players and officials to the police station


They were later escorted safely to their hotel under the guidance of the men of the Police force alongside the Match Commissioner and Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi.

We are under attack from the supporters of Prime FC as we have to run for our lives. Some of the players have been injured.

— Remo Stars FC (@RemoStarsFC) August 13, 2016

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Malaga CF trash NPFL All-Stars

The Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) All-Stars lost their second match 4-1 to Spanish side, Malaga CF in the La Liga tour friendly games on Friday.

The Nigeria’s NPFL All-Stars team narrowly lost 2-1 to Valencia CF in their first-game, but failed to hold-back the second Spanish team they confronted from scoring in the tie. Malaga midfielder, Zdravko Kuzmanovic opened scoring for the Albicelestes 22 minutes into the game, Akwa United defender, Emmanuel Ariwachukwu equalized for the Nigerian side in the 31st minute.

Star of the game, Sandro Ramirez later responded with a brace in the 38th and 46th minutes respectively, Youseff en Neyri completed the rout in the 88th minute; as the match ended 3-1 at full time in favour of Malaga.

The Nigerian team faced Malaga with a depleted side following the departure of Enyimba International FC players to Cairo, Egypt where their team is playing Zamalek in the CAF Champions League clash on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s All-Stars team will face Atletico Madrid in the losers’ final, in the La Liga World Trofeo Ramon de Carranza on Saturday.

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NPFL Preview: Rivers United versus Ikorodu United

It is the classic tale of David versus Goliath-title chasing Rivers United squaring up against relegation threatened, Ikorodu United in a rescheduled Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) clash in Port Harcourt.

The game was initially scheduled to hold on July 31 but was postponed after players and officials of Rivers United were involved in an auto crash that left several members of the club hospitalized.

Rivers United won the reverse fixture 3-2 with Guy Kuemian, Wilson Andoh and Chinonso Okonkwo all scoring to render Ifegwu Ojokwu’s brace academic at the Onikan Stadium on March 23.

Ojukwu will not play in Thursday’s contest at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium, Port Harcourt as he has since joined another NPFL side, Shooting Stars.

United in stark contrast, have all three men who scored at Onikan, five months ago, all available for selection as they have been included in the match day squad by technical manager, Stanley Eguma.

The Port Harcourt side have since reinforced their squad with former Warri Wolves attacker, Onyekachi Okafor who provides an extra offensive threat.

However, United have found goals extremely difficult to come by in recent weeks as they have failed to score in their last three games in all competitions.

Goalkeeper of Rivers United, Godwin Anyalogu knows things must change if their title aspirations are to be put back on track and insists the ‘Pride of Rivers’ cannot contemplate any result other than a win on Thursday.

Form guide (last five NPFL matches)

Rivers United (LLWWL)

Rivers United 0-1 Nasarawa United (Away)

Rivers United 1-0 Niger Tornadoes (Home)

Rivers United 2-0 Shooting Stars (Home)

Rivers United 0-1 Sunshine Stars (Away)

Rivers United 0-1 El Kanemi Warriors (Away)

Ikorodu United (DDDLD)

Ikorodu United 1-1 Akwa United (Home)

Ikorodu United 1-3 MFM FC (Away)

Ikorodu United 1-1 Lobi Stars (Away)

Ikorodu United 1-1 FCIU (Home)

Ikorordu United 2-2 Nasarawa United (Home).

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NPFL All-Stars Depart For Spain today Ahead LaLiga Tour

The Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) All-Star team is set to depart Lagos in the early hours of today for the Maiden NPFL-LaLiga tour which kicks-off on Wednesday, August 10.

The Nigerian delegation will travel aboard Morocco Air, and would arrive Spain later on today in time for the team to have their first training preparatory to the opening friendly against Valencia CF on Wednesday. The League Management Company (LMC) in a statement listed the players on the trip to include goalkeepers, Ikechukwu Ezenwa (FC Ifeanyiubah), Theophilus Afelokhai (Enyimba) and Emeka Nwabulu of Wikki Tourists.

Heartland’s Emeka Ogbugh and Abdulrahman Bashir of Nasarawa United earned late call-ups on the eve of the NPFL All-Star departure for Spain following injury scare for Gabriel Wassa of Niger Tornadoes and visa challenges for Hussain Bata of El-Kanemi Warriors.

Wassa will, however, travel with the team as coach Salisu Yusuf was banking on his possible recovery. Bata whose visa processing was not completed is not part of the 25-man squad. Another injury worry was Ibrahim Alhassan of Wikki Tourists who was earlier declared not fit by team doctors but passed a late fitness test at the Abuja National Hospital on Saturday and was included in the squad.

Others are Chima Akas (Enyimba), Matthew Etim (Rangers), Austin Obaroakpo (Abia Warriors) and Jamiu Aliyu of Kano Pillars. Also in the squad are Enyimba’s Joseph Osadiaye, Rabiu Ali of Kano Pillars, Godwin Obaje of Wikki Tourists and Ezekiel Bassey of Enyimba. Obinna Nwobodo of Rangers, Emmanuel Ariwa (Akwa United), Ifeanyi Ifeanyi of MFM, Ismaila Gata of FC Ifeanyiubah, Ifeanyi Nweke of Nasarawa United and Charles Henlong of Wikki Tourists also made the list.

The rest of the squad are Dayo Ojo of Sunshine Stars, Chisom Egbuchulam of Rangers, Sikiru Olatunbosun of MFM, Chinedu Udoji of Enyimba and his teammate Dare Ojo.
The NPFL All-Star team will on August 12 play their first match in the Carranza World Club Tournament against Malaga CF in Cadiz at 9.30pm and a win will guarantee them a place in the final while a loss will mean they play in the losers final against the winner between Atletico Madrid and Cadiz CF, hosts of the tournament on August 13.

The tour is an integral component of the technical and commercial partnership signed in April 2016 between the LMC and LaLiga. During the tour, some LMC officials and NPFL Club Managers will take part in capacity building workshops on match organisation, digital marketing and general administration. Meanwhile, the Nigerian delegation will return on August 15.

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MATCH OF THE WEEK: ENYIMBA FC VS ENUGU RANGERS (Rangers FC won the First meeting 2-1 ) Can Rangers do the double over Enyimba ?..

Can Rangers do the double over Enyimba

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


An Oriental Derby is always a treat anytime anyday irrespective of the circumstances and this weekend, it won't be any different as The People's Elephant hosts The Flying Antelopes which sees Paul Aigbogun pitch his tent against Imama Amakpakabo.

The People's Elephants come into this game on the back of a win in the Federations Cup in midweek after they saw off resistance from Rivers United. However, their last league game saw them fall to a disappointing 2-0 defeat in Jos and will be looking for a win here to re-invigorate their league campaign as they trail this weekend's opponent by seven points although they have two games in hand.

They will also be boosted by news from South Africa which kept their CAF Champions League hopes alive. Mamelodi Sundowns defeated Zamalek SC of Egypt 1-0 which means Enyimba have their destiny in their hand as they have to beat Sundowns in Nigeria and also pick up another win in a banana skin trip to Zamalek.

They lost the reverse fixture in Enugu as Rangers came from a goal down to win 2-1 in March. Rangers on the other hand will be looking for a win here as they currently trail Wikki Tourists on goal difference.

They could only manage a disappointing 1-1 draw at home to Lobi Stars which saw them drop to 2nd. It should be an exciting game with goals at both ends resulting in a slim win for the people's Elephant.

The match is billed to kickoff by 4pm and will be Live on Supersport 9


Head to Head Enyimba Vs Rangers

Rangers= Two wins against Enyimba
Enyimba= Three wins against Rangers
Draw= Two draws between both


Enyimba statistic 

They are currently placed Fifth on the NPFL log 

They have picked up 12 wins from 25 matches played so far.

They have lost Nine times so far in their away matches this season in the NPFL, They are yet to lose at home this season.

They have won just Two away games in the NPFL so far this season

They have won TEN times at home this season.

They have drawn Three times at home this season and Once away this season

They have conceded 6 goals while playing at home this season and a whooping 17 goals while playing away from home.

They have scored 19 goals while playing at home this season and 7 goals while playing away from home.

Their biggest win this season was defeating Kano Pillars 2-1 away and also defeating Ifeanyi Ubah 2-0 in 

Their biggest loss this season was losing to El-Kanemi Warriors and Plateau United away from home with the same score of 2-0

They have failed to score in Seven away games and Two home games

They have kept Eight Clean sheets at home and Two Clean sheet away this season.

Enugu Rangers statistic 

They are currently placed Second on the NPFL log but have the same number of Points with the leaders Wikki Tourists.

They have picked up 13 wins from 27 matches played so far.

They have lost Six times so far in their away matches this season in the NPFL, and are yet to lose at home this season.

They have won two away game in the NPFL so far this season.

They have won Elelven times at home this season.

They have drawn Three times at home this season and Five Times Away 

They have conceded 9 goals while playing at home this season and a whooping 21 goals while playing away from home.

They have scored 25 goals while playing at home this season and 13 goals while playing away from home.

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

Their biggest loss this season was losing to Lobi Stars 3-1 away from home.

They have failed to score in 4 away games and one home games

They have kept Five sheets at home and Two Clean sheet away this season.

Just like Wikki Tourist they have also picked up eleven points away from home this season.

They are not shy to score away from, home. So far they have scored 13 goals away from home

My Prediction: Enyimba FC 2-1 Enugu Rangers

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FULL WEEK 29 NPFL MATCH REVIEW : AKWA UNITED VS WIKKI TOURISTS ( First meeting ended 0-0 ) CAN WIKKI TOURISTS HANG ON ?......

CAN WIKKI TOURISTS HANG ON ?......

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


The Bird Nest Stadium comes alive this weekend as Akwa United hosts league leaders Wikki Tourists and will be looking to throw a spanner in the works of the table toppers and League title hopefuls.

The Promise Keepers have been in poor form recently as they've lost their past three games in all competitions. A nail-biting 3-2 home defeat to Enugu Rangers was followed by an inability to build on an early 1-0 lead against Warri Wolves which saw them succumb to a 3-1 defeat and the recent spate of defeats is threatening to preponderate their early season form which saw them compete in the upper echelons of the table, albeit, temporarily. 

They also bowed out of the Federations Cup as they were shocked by giant-killers Crown FC of Ogbomosho. Belgian tactician Maurice Cooreman has been restored to his position after some internal wranglings months ago saw him suspended. They'll also need to curb their ephemeral loss of concentration in defence which has characterized their recent games especially in the defeat to Rangers which highlighted their poor defence as Rangers kept slicing through like hot knife through butter. 

Wikki Tourists on the other hand will be coming into this game in fine form after winning 2-0 at home last week. Coach Abdul Maikaba will be relieved to see star striker Godwin Obaje break his goal drought which stretched to four months. They're also strong at the back which will give the Bauchi based side the confidence of getting a positive result to maintain top spot and keep nearest challengers Enugu Rangers at arm's length. A score draw looks a possible result here.

Head to Head

Lobi Stars and Warri Wolves have meet eight times. Lobi Stars have won thrice.All victory being at home, while Warri Wolves have won twice against Lobi. The two teams have also drawn twice against each other.

Akwa United Stars statistic 

They are currently placed Tenth on the NPFL log 

They have picked up 10 wins from 27 matches played so far.

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

They have won one away game in the NPFL so far this season which was against El-Kanemi Warriors

They have won Nine times at home this season.

They have drawn Three times at home this season and Three Times Away also

They have conceded 11 goals while playing at home this season and a whooping 23 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 3-1 away and also defeating Ikorodu United 3-0 in Uyo.

Their biggest loss this season was losing to MFM 3-0 away from home.

They have failed to score in Seven away games and Two home games

They have kept Eight Clean sheets at home and one Clean sheet away this season.

Wikki Tourists statistic 

They are currently placed 1st on the NPFL log 

They have picked up 13 wins from 27 matches played so far.

They have lost Six times so far in their away matches this season in the NPFL, and are yet to lose at home this season.

They have won two away game in the NPFL so far this season.

They have won Elelven times at home this season.

They have drawn Three times at home this season and Five Times Away 

They have conceded 4 goals while playing at home this season and a whooping 13 goals while playing away from home.

They have scored 30 goals while playing at home this season and 7 goals while playing away from home.

Their biggest win this season was defeating Warri Wolves 4-0 at home.

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

They have failed to score in Six away games and Three home games

They have kept Ten Clean sheets at home and Four Clean sheet away this season.

They are second Half half fighters. They have scored 24 goals in the second half of matches they half played this season. 

They have picked up eleven points away from home this season.

They have the league highest goal scorer in Godwin Obaje who has netted 14 goals so far this season

My Prediction: Akwa United 1-1 Wikki Tourists.

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