Nigerian Football
RIVERS UNITED SET TO FURTHER DISUNITE AKWA UNITED
BY SAMMY WEJINYA
Rivers United travel to Uyo to be the first team to face Akwa United after the exit of their erstwhile coach, John Obuh.
Games between Akwa United and Rivers United are never straightforward affairs and the latest installment which comes up on Wednesday could prove to be the most exciting yet in recent years.
The last time the two sides met, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu on June 15, 2019, Akwa were the bookies favourites to run away with the win.
The ‘Pride of Rivers’ however had other ideas and totally outclassed the ‘Promise Keepers’ 3-0 with Kehinde Adedipe, Bright Onyedikachi and Ossy Martins netting in the 2019 round of 32 AITEO Cup contest.
This Wednesday, the stakes are almost as high (if not higher) with both sides aiming to amass maximum points for varying reasons.
The news dropped like a bombshell on Monday morning – the Akwa United head coach, Sam John Obuh had resigned.
And this was happening less than 48 hours to their biggest game of the season against their fearsome and in-form next door neigbours, Rivers United!
This was certainly unusual stuff and more than a few eyebrows were understandably raised.
Club secretary, Omon Bassey promptly reacted to Obuh’s shock resignation on behalf of the Akwa United management.
“Yes, coaches take responsibility when things go awry, yet we can testify to the professionalism and discipline you brought to bear in the running of the club.
“This includes your untiring belief in the God factor in the life of this great organisation. We will miss you.
“Akwa United wish you well in your future endeavours, even as we daily strive to restore the confidence of our numerous fans worldwide,” Omon posited.
A new Man in the saddle – the Boboye factor
The Uyo club acted swiftly in the aftermath of Obuh’s decision to throw in the towel.
Popular ‘Port Harcourt boy’ Kennedy Boboye was appointed to take the reins just hours later.
Boboye knows Rivers United well but in his stint at his last two clubs, Plateau United and Remo Stars, he failed to mastermind a victory over the Port Harcourt club (two draws with Plateau United and two defeats with Remo Stars).
He also takes over an ailing club that have won just once in eight league matches this term.
Seeming mutiny within the ranks of the Uyo club forced the hand of the management to announce via its official media channels on Monday that “in a move to restore sanity, the club management has suspended one player indefinitely, while two are undergoing disciplinary related investigation.”
One of the players believed to be caught in the middle of the storm, top scorer, Ndifreke Effiong was forced to offer a public apology to the Akwa United family for his part in the less than savoury incidents of the last few days.
Blue tide rising
In stark contrast, things couldn’t have been more settled at Rivers United.
The Port Harcourt landlords easily dismantled Katsina United 2-0 on Sunday without breaking sweat, barely stepping off first gear and with plenty still left in the tank thanks to goals from Stephen Gopey and Ishaq Rafiu.
Rivers United have lost just twice (each by 1-0 margins) in eight league games this season and know that a win on Wednesday could see them move up to second place on the standings.
Akwa United, comprehensively outclassed 0-3 by MFM FC in their last game, sit just two points above the relegation zone and look extremely low on confidence, a striking contrast to their opponents on Wednesday.
Rivers United’s technical manager, Stanley Eguma is training his sights on masterminding a positive display and result on Wednesday.
“It’s a big game, a local derby and they will be expecting us to come (to Uyo) with fireworks and we are going there to get the three points,” Eguma said to the club’s official website, www.riversunitedfc.com.ng.
The miserable run of Akwa United and Ikorodu City came to an end after six games in the Nigerian Premier League this season. Both teams were initially glued at the bottom of the league table.
They now got respite as Akwa United beat Kano Pillar by 2-0 while Ikorodu City even did what could be considered an upset, beating Bendel Insurance 3-0.
Remo Stars bounced back to the top of the log after a 3-0 defeat of Nasarawa United. Shooting Stars are yet to get their rhythm this season, playing a barren draw with Enyimba in Ibadan.
Kwara United who got their first full points of the season last week after a 1-0 defeat of Remo Stars could not consolidate as they were beaten 1-0 by Abia Warriors.
Heartland under Emmanuel Amuneke are gradually recovering as they got a valuable away draw against El-Kanemi Warriors.
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
It is 75 years since Nigeria’s national football team first played an international match. That was on 8 October 1949 when the first set of Nigeria’s assembly on their return voyage stopped over in Freetown and engaged Sierra Leone in an international football match. Nigeria won 2-0, setting a chain of positive results on 8 October.
The country never lost any competitive duel on that date. More significantly, the Super Eagles first qualified for the World Cup on an 8 October date.
That was in 1993 when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Algeria in the quest for USA ‘94 World Cup.
Nigeria became the first English-speaking African country to qualify for the World Cup. Another significance of the October 8 match at the July 5 Stadium, Algiers is that Nigeria were unbeaten for the first time by Algeria at home.
The only deviation from the 8 October Magic was in 2015 when Nigeria lost 2-0 to Congo in a friendly match.
Twenty-six years after Nigeria’s debut international match, one of Africa’s biggest football nations, Egypt fell to the October 8 magic, losing 4-0 to Nigeria in the last stage of the triangular World Cup qualifying series for Argentina ’78.
Up till October 15, 2013, when Ghana beat Egypt 6-1 in Kumasi, the October 8, 1977 duel with Nigeria remained Egypt’s biggest loss in a World Cup qualifying match.
Before the 1977 duel, Nigeria in 1963 played a friendly match with Liberia in Monrovia. The October 8 magic was active, even in an away match. Nigeria drew 2-2 in their very first encounter with Liberia. It was shortly after the team had, through a protest, upturned a victory by Guinea to pick Nigeria’s very first African Nations’ Cup ticket.
Little wonder then that when FIFA suspended Nigeria in 2010, the world governing body provisionally lifted the ban on October 8!
Nigeria on 8 October
- 1949 – Freetown (Friendly) Sierra Leone 0-2 Nigeria
- 1963 – Monrovia (Friendly) Liberia 2-2 Nigeria
- 1977 – Lagos (World Cup qualifier) Nigeria 4-0 Egypt
- 1993 – Algiers (World Cup qualifier) Algeria 1-1 Nigeria… qualify for USA ‘94.
- 2005 – Abuja (World Cup qualifier) Nigeria 5-1 Zimbabwe
- 2010 – FIFA, in apparent respect to the 8 October magic, provisionally lifted a ban imposed on Nigeria.
- 2011 – Abuja (African Nations Cup qualifier) Nigeria 2-2 Guinea. Although undefeated, Nigeria failed to make it to the 2012 African Nations Cup.
- 2015 – D.R. Congo beat Nigeria 2-0 in Visé, Belgium. The ‘October 8 Magic’ is finally broken.
Rivers United have launched themselves to the top of the log at the end of the match day 5 of the Nigeria Premier League. The Port Harcourt side beat Akwa United 2-1 to go afloat after initial leaders, Remo Stars crumbled to a 1-0 defeat at Kwara United in Ilorin on Sunday.
It was Remo Stars’ first defeat in the season. Rivers United are now with 13 points. Stephen Mayo put Rivers United ahead after 31 minutes. But it turned a temporary lead as Akwa United bounced back almost at the blast of the referee’s whistle for the second half.
Friday Apollos levelled up for Akwa United before Ndifreke Effiong Udo scored the winner in the 85th minute.
Sunday Results
- Kwara United 1-0 Remo Stars
- Rangers International 1-0 Abia Warriors
- Heartland FC 2-0 Niger Tornadoes
- Kano Pillars 2-0 Sunshine Stars
- Plateau United 1-0 Ikorodu City
- Rivers United 2-1 Akwa United
- Enyimba 3-0 Katsina United* Suspended
- Nasarawa 0-0 Bayelsa United
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