Rivers United head coach Stanley Eguma believes the title race is still open despite seeing his side extend their lead at the top of the table to four points after a 2-0 win over Enyimba on Monday.
2019 champions Enyimba were guests of the champions-in-waiting at their fortress, the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt in a MatchDay 23 game moved by 24 hours after their lengthy trip back from Katsina.
Enyimba
Rivers United were aiming for a rare league double over the People’s Elephant and they got their noses in front in the 21st minute when Ishaq Rafiu converted from the penalty spot after he had been upended by Enyimba captain Austin Oladapo.
The Pride of Rivers doubled their advantage in the 34th minute through Chiamaka Madu who bundled the ball home from close range after a moment of defensive uncertainty for the visitors.
Enyimba tried to claw their ways back into the game but were prevented from doing so by a resolute Rivers United side who had an answer for every question asked by the former league champions.
Monday’s win takes Rivers United’s ponts tally for the season to a staggering 52 points from 23 matches, four clear of second place Plateau United who have 48 points from the same number of games.
Eguma, a league winner in 2011, says in spite of their imperial run, nothing is guaranteed yet.
“Like I will always say, it is not yet over,” he told www.npfl.ng.
“The league is a marathon, you cannot say it is over when we have more than fifteen games to play.
So one cannot just begin to celebrate. We still have other tough opponents to play so for now I think we’re still on course and there’s a very big hope in the team that we can achieve,” added Eguma.
Up next for Rivers United on MatchDay 24 is a trip to Akure to face Sunshine Stars on Thursday. Eguma says his team is now a target for opposing teams and must be ready for it.
“We still need to work above our capacity because we’re now targets of every other team so we cannot relent.
“Look at Enyimba, if they can be playing like these in other matches, they won’t lose any games but because it is Rivers United, they played with the last drop of their blood to get victory but we were more than determined to achieve our aim,” summed the former Enyimba assistant coach.
Match Details
Rivers United
16. Sochima Victor 6. Kazie Enyinnaya
27. Chidiebube Duru 11. Morice Chukwu
5. Ndasi Kadiang Denis 14. Fabian Nworie 12. Ishaq Rafiu Kayode (Sikiru Olatunbosun 86′) 31. Akuneto Chijioke (Bakary Bamba 86′) 28. Nyima Nwagua (George Akpabio 90′) 18. Chiamaka Madu (Bernard Ovoke 90+2′) 20. Joseph Onoja
Subs
1. Afelokhai Theophilus 7. Fortune Omoniwari 8. Esor Nelson Okwa 9. Ovoke Benard 13. Lookman Binuyo
15. Bamba Bakary 29. Sikiru Olatunbosun 30. George Akpabio 33. Temple Emekayi
BOOKED: NIL
GOALS: Ishaq Rafiu 21′ (P), Chiamaka Madu 34′
Rnyimba XI
21. Sabirou Bassa-Djeri 32. Bilal Yakubu
2. Emmanuel Ampiah 16. Philip Ozor (Farouk Mohammed 76′) 5. Oluwatosin Adegbite 18. Pascal Eze 13. Sadiq Abubakar (Godwin Emmanuel 81′) 26. Austin Oladapo (Cyril Olisema 76′) 9. Chukwuemeka Obioma (Samuel Stone 61′) 25. Victor Mbaoma 14. Samuel Kalu (Gabriel Orok 61′)
Subs
1. John Noble 3. Daniel Darkwah 8. Samuel Stone Onukwube 17. Chigozie Obasi 19. Orok Gabriel 20. Cyril Olisema 23. Adekunle Adeleke 27. Farouk Mohammed 38. Godwin Emmanuel
BOOKED: Philip Ozor, Oluwatosin Adegbite, Samuel Stone
