In today's double header Rivers
Match preview: Rivers United vs 3SC
For the second time in four days, two of the grand football establishments in Nigerian football, Rivers United FC and Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC), go toe to toe in a high stakes football match.
After battling themselves to a standstill in a Federation Cup round of 16 game at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna that lived up to the hype, both sides turn their attention to the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) which has now entered match day 27.
The two sides have hugely contrasting ambitions in the league this season.
United are firmly in the title race but know they can ill afford any margin for error especially after watching title rivals, Enugu Rangers produce a sparkling display enroute a stunning 3-2 victory over Akwa United in Uyo on Saturday.
For 3SC, avoiding the drop to the Nigeria National League (NNL, the second tier of Nigerian football) at the end of the season will be viewed as monumental success.
Head coach of the Oluyole Warriors, Gbenga Ogunbote believes the feat will be achieved.
“We will not be relegated at the end of the season. It is something I strongly believe. The turning point of our season will be (on Sunday) when we beat Rivers United in Port Harcourt,” he told Rivers United Media.
Grand and lofty words especially as Rivers United have only dropped two points at home all season.
Ogunbote however believes his charges can pull the chestnut out of the fire after pushing the Pride of Rivers to the limit in the Federation Cup on Wednesday-a game which required a penalty shootout to produce a winner.
“If that Federation Cup game in Kaduna was a league game, we would have gotten a point.
“I hope my players will not be psychologically affected by the manner they lost to Rivers United last time out but that is where maturity comes in. </p>
“I will be very surprised if we lose in Port Harcourt on Sunday,” he added.
Ajani Ibrahim impressed in Kaduna against United and should start on Sunday. Emanuel Fabiyi, James Moses, captain, Promise Ebiaku, Izu James and Osawe Alaba are also trusted stalwarts that Ogunbote will be relying on to deliver the goods against the Port Harcourt club.
Striker, Sunday Adetunji missed a glorious chance to score for 3SC against Rivers United in Kaduna but he will be looking to put that firmly behind him if given the nod to start on Sunday.
Adetunji will receive support upfront from Jimoh Olawale, Babalola Ibrahim and Fawaz Otun while Nonso Ogbonna and Suraj Sadiq can always produce ammunition from the bench if things are not going according to script.
Heads have dropped slightly in the United camp following Rangers’ 3-2 win in Uyo against Akwa United on Saturday which means that even a win against 3SC will not be enough to see the Port Harcourt club claim top spot on Sunday.
Technical manager of the club, Stanley Eguma is however focussing on the task at hand.
“That we beat 3SC in the Federation Cup on Wednesday does not mean we will just walk into the pitch and beat them on Sunday.
“It does not work that way and we have to work very hard to get the win.
“One positive is that we now know how they (3SC) play and we will prepare accordingly,” he said.
A win for United will take them one place up on the log to second unless Wikki Tourists avoid defeat to Niger Tornadoes in Lokoja.
Form guide (last five matches)
Rivers United (WLLWD)
Rivers United 4-1 MFM FC (H)
Rivers United 0-2 FCIU (A)
Rivers United 0-1 Nasarawa United (A)
Rivers United 1-0 Niger Tornadoes (H)
Rivers United 0-0 3SC (Neutral venue)
Shooting Stars (WDWWL)
Shooting Stars 1-0 Enyimba (H)
Shooting Stars 1-0 MFM FC (A)
Shooting Stars 2-2 FCIU
Shooting Stars 2-1 Nasarawa United
Shooting Stars 0-0 Rivers United (Neutral venue)
Prediction: Rivers United 3-0 Shooting Stars
Sammy Wejinya
Media Officer
Rivers United FC

Enyimba is poised to make a duble over kano pillars today in PH

Enyimba vs Pillars
Kano pillars fc xi..
David Obiozor 22
Jeol Djondang 4
Chris Madaki 30
Nura Ibrahim 33
Jamiu Alimi 5
Tijjani Adamu 20
Suleman Usman 13
Adamu Muhd 8
Gambo Muhd (c) 9
Rabiu Ali 10
Amos Gyang 11
RES......
Ibrahim Pius 21
Nafiu Ibrahim 16
Nafiu Kabuga 15
Adamu Murtala 3
Mubarak Sa'id 14
Razaq Adegbete 35
Zikiye Jonathan 26.
T/A... Babaganaru Muhammad.
Urs, Media Officer Kano Pillars fc, Malikawa.

Make i call the oga dem.
c empredboy
bantino lawsimon
Everstar200
jaymaxxy sarutobie
Taiocol
Vfactor
groundnutoil
krasid
Sxholes0007
Robosky02
Dexema Xcex
Pemale Ewosk
Northboy kenzysmith
honeric01
Shaggyosas Muzzol
Rolings Internetpo Caius innunique
jaypea98
Wink2015 Realsleek
MaxiOmenuko
Iseyinoro
crownprince102 atheistandproud
Ajibel Uduokirika1
LALASTICLALA Supersport 2 dey show am

Udokrika1 my guy you dey feel those new UMBRO kits on parade?

DrinkWater10:
Udokrika1 my guy you dey feel those new UMBRO kits on parade?

E make brain only say dem never send my own I applied since last year

Hope pillars are chased back 2 d pyramid city

#‎NPFL‬ - TOP 5:
1. Rangers - 46pts
2. Wikki - 43pts
3. Rivers - 41pts
4. Pillars - 39pts
5. Enyimba - 37pts

Todays game will surely define d table

League Management NG

Match fact #ENYPIL: #NFPL champions Enyimba will aim for a first double on Pillars after winning the first meeting 2-1 in Kano this season.


#NPFL form guide for #ENYPIL (last 5 games) Enyimba - LWWLD Kano Pillars - WLWLD



Enyimba XI vs Kano Pillars #‎ENYPIL‬
Moses Ocheje 2
Uche John 25
Chima Akas 27
Kelly Kester 12
Chinedu Udoji 26
Ifeanyi Anaemena 5
Mfon Udoh 10
Stephen Chukwude 9
Christian Pyagbara 17
Nzube Anaezemba 4
Osadiaye Joseph 20

Subs
Olufemi Thomas 21
ThankGod Ike 24
Abdulrazak Aliyu 19
Abu Azeez 3
Leonard Ugochukwu 33
Bassey Ezekiel 6

1 1 Aready .
Loss of concentration from the back line.

GoaaAaal




Enyimba takes d lead from ifeanyi Anarmena

Kano. Quickly rstores parity

Enyimba 1:1 Kano pillars

Don't usually watch NPFL but didn't have anything to do so I'm watching this.

Match is quite interesting, are most NPFL matches like this?

Lalasticlala abeg na our el klassico be dis. Ooooh


Enyimba 1:1 Kano pillars

AikayDaWrapper:
Don't usually watch NPFL but didn't have anything to do so I'm watching this.

Match is quite interesting, are most NPFL matches like this?

Lol

I cant remembr the last time i watch EPL or Laliga

NPFL all the way

If u had. Watched yesterday's match. Akwa utd vs Rangers u will know there is more. The NPFL can offer than what u knew

Anyways enjoy d match

AikayDaWrapper:
Don't usually watch NPFL but didn't have anything to do so I'm watching this.

Match is quite interesting, are most NPFL matches like this?

You should have watched yesterdays match between Akwa and Rangers.
It was an away victory for Rangers and a very exciting game.

taiocol

how market una reelegation go sure dis season oooh

25' Enyimba 1-1 Pillars #ENYPIL

Still stalement but the game has been impressive

33' Enyimba 1-1 Pillars #‎ENYPIL‬. Superb work by Enyimba's Chukwude but his pass is too heavy as it comes off Pyagbara's hand. Free kick to Pillars.

Are you watching this on Gotv? They are not showing it on Select and it's frustrating. I subscribed my Gotv because of this matches but now i can't get any.

Emmysteve:
Are you watching this on Gotv? They are not showing it on Select and it's frustrating. I subscribed my Gotv because of this matches but now i can't get any.

SuperSport Select2 on GOTv is showing it. subscription usually costs One thousand eight hundred naira.

Emmysteve:
Are you watching this on Gotv? They are not showing it on Select and it's frustrating. I subscribed my Gotv because of this matches but now i can't get any.

Are u sure its GOTv u subsribed?

Am watching itlive on GOtv

Half Time still 1:1

lalasticlala, honric01

oya na

uduokirika1:
taiocol

how market una reelegation go sure dis season oooh

impossibro

2
Enyimba lead courtesy of Uche John's spot kick.

73' GOAL! Enyimba 2-1 Pillars #ENYPIL. Uche John scores from the spot. Enyimba back in front.

ft enyimba 2:1 kano pillars

uduokirika1:
ft enyimba 2:1 kano pillars

Great win for Enyimba.
You see why i said I hate creating match threads?
The mods don't make any effort to promote NPFL threads to FP.
Even the Rangers Intl's Friday night games with astounding crowd attendance gets ignored.
Seun and his mids need to help in promoting our league. I hope the status quo changes soon.

lets go there....

Best of Nigeria Football

DrinkWater10:

Great win for Enyimba.
You see why i said I hate creating match threads?
The mods don't make any effort to promote NPFL threads to FP.
Even the Rangers Intl's Friday night games with astounding crowd attendance gets ignored.
Seun and his mids need to help in promoting our league. I hope the status quo changes soon.

SMH for nairaland mods

Dem for kukuma change d name to €uroland/Poundland or even $dollarland

Goooooaaaaaaal

Rivers unitd 1:0 3SC


Somewhere in Lokoja
NigerTonardoes 1:0 Wikki tourist

27' GOAL! Rivers Utd 2-0 Shooting #RIVSHO. Frederick Obomate doubles the lead for Rivers Utd

41' GOAL! Ifeanyiubah 1-0 El-Kanemi #IFEELK. Brazilian Alberico heads in Medrano's free kick.

41' PENALTY SAVE! MFM 1-0 Heartland #MFMHEA. HEartland's Obi saves MFM's spot kick after ref awarded a penalty for ball-handling in the box.


39s
#NPFL at HT
Rivers 2-0 3SC
Ifeanyiubah 1-0 El-Kanemi
Lobi 0-0 Plateau Utd
Abia Warriors 0-0 Wolves
Tornadoes 1-0 Wikki
MFM 1-0 Heartland

Taiocol

50' GOAL! Abia Warriors 1-0 Wolves #ABIWOL. Chinenye Agoha puts Warriors in front five minutes into the restart.

League Management Company
#‎NPFL‬ Match Day 27 Results
Rivers Utd 2-0 Shooting Stars
Ifeanyiubah 1-0 El-Kanemi
Lobi 1-0 Plateau Utd
Abia Warriors 1-0 Wolves
Tornadoes 1-1 Wikki
MFM 2-0 Heartland
Enyimba 2-1 Pillars
Akwa Utd 2-3 Rangers
Nasarawa Utd 3-0 Sunshine Stars