Nigerian Football
RIVERS UNITED DROWN SUNSHINE STARS IN PORT HARCOURT
BY SAMMY WEJINYA.
Rivers United came from a goal down to defeat Sunshine Stars 2-1 in an exciting Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) clash.
United started tentatively and duly got punished when a shocking goalkeeping error by Darlington Ovunda, who was making his ever league first start of his career, allowed Sunshine Stars to take a shock lead.
Omo Jesu Ogunniyi smacked into an unguarded net from close range to silence the home faithful.
It was a richly deserved lead for a start full of verve and endeavor which almost culminated in a well-worked goal in the 13th minute.
A devastating counter attack by the visitors had seen Jide Fatokun pull away on the near side and his inch-perfect cross found Omo Jesu unmarked just inside the Rivers United penalty area.
The forward struck firmly enough but saw his goal bound effort kept out impressively, from point blank range by Ovunda.
To their credit, United fought back gamely and were immediately back on level terms as Peter Ubakanma swept home from a corner with the visitors failing to clear their lines.
It was Ubakanma’s first ever league goal for United following his arrival from the MFM club just over a season ago.
United almost took the lead for the first time in the game three minutes before the half hour as visionary play and incisive passing by Esor Nelson.
Malachi Ohawume, who had just moments earlier, replaced the injured Ogbonna Onuoha, latched on the brilliant passed and fired a low effort which seemed destined for the bottom corner only for the Sunshine Stars goalkeeper, Soliu Suleiman to produce an excellent save.
United started the second half on the front foot and quickly earned a penalty which was easily dispatched by Konan N’gouan.
United had several other opportunities to extend their lead but displayed profligacy on more than a single occasion to keep the visitors in the game.
They were almost made to rue those missed chances when Sodiq Yusuf dragged a shot wide from 12 yards with the last kick of the game.
Technical Manager of Rivers United, Stanley Eguma spoke to the official Rivers United FC website, www.riversunitedfc.com.ng after the game.
“When they scored the first goal, it didn’t demoralize us. The players came back into the game and went on to get the second goal and now we have broken the jinx.
“Henceforth, Sunshine Stars will fall in Port Harcourt,” he said.
Rivers United have now moved to seventh on the NPFL standings with 15 points from 10 matches.
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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