Sports
Eguma Blames Team Loss On Players’ Wastefulness
The Pride of Rivers Coach has picked holes in his players’ lack of coordination in the final third in their slim defeat to the Olukoya Boys
Rivers United Manager, Stanley Eguma has rued his players’ profligacy in their 1-0 away loss to MFM in a Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) fixture in Lagos last Sunday.
The Pride of Rivers played well but spurned the chances that came their way against the Olukoya Boys at Agege Stadium.
Speaking to the media after the match, Eguma noted that his players must learn to convert their chances, unlike what happened against MFM.
“It wasn’t a bad game. It was just that we failed to convert the chances that we created,” Eguma disclosed to the club media.
“We dominated the game and created a lot of chances. I noticed that my players were too eager to put the ball at the back of the net and in the process they made mistakes. They need to be calmer while in the final third.
“It will be unfair to blame them for the loss because they didn’t put any foot wrong.
They played as if they were in Port Harcourt and gave me reasons to be proud of their performance but the final result showed that they lost the game. People are only interested in the final result and not in the team that plays better.”
The former Under-23 coach admitted that they have a tough task ahead of them with a fixture against as Enyimba, who are on a 11-game unbeaten run on Wednesday, but that his players must be brave against the People’s Elephant.
“We do not have much time to brood over the missed chance in Lagos and we must go back home straight away with our eyes fixed on Wednesday and the tie with Enyimba,” he continued.
“We must show that we are undaunted by the defeat in Lagos and strive to claim the three points against Enyimba.
“They are doing well presently but we must show them that they have met their Waterloo against us. We are aware that our chances of finishing in the top three rest on our getting a win from the next game.
Rivers United dropped to seventh place on the NPFL Group A table , following Sunday’s defeat in Lagos, with a total of 23 points from 17 games.
Kiadum Edookor
In a statement released by the league, the competition is scheduled to take place from Friday, June 5 to Sunday, June 14, 2026, with six clubs set to battle for the league title at the end of the 2025/26 season.
NWFL Chief Operating Officer, Modupe Shabi, said the choice of Port Harcourt reflects the Rivers State Government’s continued support for women’s football and its successful hosting of the league’s Annual General Assembly last year.
The Super Six tournament will feature the top three teams from Group A and Group B of the regular season competing in a round-robin format, with each club playing five matches over nine days.
Qualified teams for the competition include defending champions Bayelsa Queens, Edo Queens, Rivers Angels, Robo Queens, Nasarawa Amazons, and debutants Abia Angels.
The NWFL Premiership has produced four different winners in the last five editions, with Rivers Angels winning in 2021, Bayelsa Queens claiming the title in 2022 and 2025, Delta Queens triumphing in 2023, and Edo Queens emerging champions in 2024.
The league also urged participating clubs to comply with all competition regulations and directives ahead of the championship. The Super Six will determine Nigeria’s representative for the WAFU-B qualifiers for a place at the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League and ultimately the 2027 FIFA Women’s Champions Cup.
Teams are expected to arrive on Friday, June 5, when the draw ceremony and pre-match meeting will also take place. Matchdays are scheduled for June 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14, with rest days in between before the tournament concludes with the trophy presentation ceremony.
