By Fisayo Dairo
Head coach of Rivers United, Stanley Eguma says “a draw is not a bad result” for his side after they held their nerves to see through a 1-1 draw with faltering Enyimba in the fourth instalment of their meeting this season.
Rivers United took a shock lead in the 34th minute through in-form striker Malachi Ohawume who was left with an easy tap home after Enyimba goalkeeper Sabirou Bassa-Djeri had saved Shedrack Oghali’s effort.
Enyimba became markedly improved in the second half and deservedly levelled scores in the 48th minute through substitute Sadiq Abubakar who rifled home a volley from close range.
The People’s Elephant were then denied by the cross bar after Beninese defender Nabil Yarou hit an effort midway through the second half while Rivers United also had a goal chalked off for offside.
Eguma, a former assistant coach with Enyimba during the club’s glory days in the continent hailed both sides for putting up a good display on a day that a few percentage of fans were allowed into the stadium.
“It was a good game, the two teams played well but I commend my players for putting up a good game today. We had to play coordinated football, knowing fully well that our opponents is another strong team too.
“Being tactically disciplined was our watchword and it paid in the first half when we went ahead.
“Second half, we came back, and the pressure early in the game gave Enyimba the equaliser, I think we gave our best. We were actually prepared for a win but at least a draw is not a bad result,” Eguma told www.npfl.ng after the game.
The result keeps Rivers United one point and one place above Enyimba on the league log and for Enyimba head coach Fatai Osho, it was a painful result giving the hopes and aspirations of his side.
Osho, in his chat to www.npfl.ng after the game admitted his side were poor in the first half but responded well in the second half and could have gone ahead to claim all three points.
“(It is) very sad, very sad. We are looking at the angle that three points today will put us in a good position for continental places and from there we start nursing the ambition again for winning the NPFL.
“It was a poor first half after what I call an own goal because nothing should have come out of that particular move but we dashed it away. It has been like that this season for a long time this season, it is quite unfortunate.
“We talked to the players at half time and you can see the changes. They came up with a lot of belief in themselves, their response was so superb, we got our goal three minutes into the second half and we picked it up from there,” said Osho.
Enyimba will play their last remaining outstanding game against Kwara United on Wednesday at the Enyimba International Stadium.
Match Stats
Enyimba
21. Sabirou Bassa-Djeri 23. Stanley Okorom 3. Daniel Darkwah 8. Farouk Mohammed (Anthony Omaka 75′) 24. Nelson Ogbonnaya 6. Nabil Yarou 27. Reuben Bala 16. Philip Ozor (Dare Olatunji 47′) 11. Tosin Omoyele (Victor Mbaoma 47′) 20. Cyril Olisema (Sadiq Abubakar 47′) 10. Jean-Marie Guera (Emmanuel Ampiah 75′)
Subs
35. Izundu Njoku 2. Emmanuel Ampiah 5. Hassan Abubakar 4. Anthony Omaka 30. Dare Olatunji 25. Victor Mbaoma 13. Sadiq Abubakar
CAUTIONED: Stanley Okorom 61′
GOAL: Sadiq Abubakar 48′
Rivers United
1. Abiodun Akande 17. Chigozie Ihunda (Desmond Agbekpornu 65′) 15. Bamba Bakary 13. Lookman Binuyo 14. Fabian Nworie 19. Festus Austin 20. Onoja Joseph 25. Malachi Ohawume 9 Shedrack Oghali (Godwin Aguda 79′) 11. Morice Chukwu 8. Esor Nelson Okwa (Rafiu Ishaq 65′)
Subs
34. Darlingtin Ovunda 3. Konan Ruffin 24. Desmond Agbekpornu 33. Temple Emekayi 32. Naziru Auwalu 12. Ishaq Rafiu 2. Aguda Godwin 23. Paul Acquah 29. Samuel Afful
BOOKED: Shedrack Oghali 21′ Malachi Ohawume 34′ Chigozie Ihunda 51′ Godwin Aguda 79′
GOAL: Malachi Ohawume 34′
