Sports
NPFL: Rivers United Finishes Second, Secures Continental Ticket
Rivers United FC of Port Harcourt, on Sunday, secured one of the CAF Champions League tickets after finishing in second position in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).
United humbled visiting Katsina United 3-0 in one of the last games of the season, which took place at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt.
The encounter in Amiesimaka Stadium was gripped with anxieties and fears following the crucial nature of the game; hence, either a loss or a draw will totally eliminate them from the title contest.
There was a dramatic scene that happened when the center referee blew the final whistle; thereafter, a false alarm was raised that Ikorodu FC had equalized 2-2. It was obvious that once Ikorodu equalized, Rivers United automatically became the title winners.
The celebration at Adokiye Amiesimaka was massive after hearing a false alarm, as many believed that United had won the NPFL trophy, but behold, that was actually a false alarm from an unknown person in the stadium.
Speaking shortly after the match, the chairman of the Rivers United supporters club, Sunny Oguh, popularly known as “Total,” expressed sadness and disappointment, saying that expectations of Rivers people were not met.
“As I speak, my supporters, club members, are not happy at all because our expectations were to win the trophy.
Well, we have consoled ourselves that at least we will be in the continent. We are optimistic that we will do well in the continent and make Nigeria proud, Oguh said.
By: Tonye Orabere