It might not have been a mouth watering game for Rivers United, but they secure a win at home that enables them to climb to the top of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) table following a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Wikki Tourists, while Ikorodu City remained third after being held to a goalless draw by visiting Katsina United.
Meanwhile the NPFL scoresheet portrays Taofeek Otaniyi as the hero in Port Harcourt, scoring the decisive goal in the 19th minute as Rivers United edged past a stubborn Wikki Tourists side 1-0. The Pride of Rivers thought they had doubled their lead in the 51st minute, but Samson Obi’s acrobatic effort was correctly ruled offside.
The Finidi George’s men created a lot of chances in both halves but were repeatedly denied by a resolute Wikki Tourists defence determined to keep the scoreline respectable.
Notwithstanding, the Rivers United’s recent victory extended their impressive run to nine consecutive NPFL matches unbeaten, both home and away. Statistics show that their last defeat came in October, when they suffered a 2-1 home loss to Bayelsa United.
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The 1-0 win against Wikki Tourist saw Rivers United leapfrog Nasarawa United to move into first place, opening a two-point lead at the summit with a game in hand. In a clear count, Rivers United have now accumulated 33 points from 16 matches, recording nine wins, six draws, and one defeat.
Away from Rivers United victory, another NPFL fixture on matchday 17 was at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos, where Ikorodu City’s hopes of moving into second place were dashed after they were held to a 0-0 draw by Katsina United.
The draw leaves Ikorodu City third on the table, now two points behind Nasarawa United and four points adrift of Rivers United. Meanwhile, a win would have lifted the Oga Boys to second place, just two points behind leaders Rivers United.
