Ranchers Bees held Rivers United to a 0-0 draw on Monday as both sides settled for a point in their Nigeria Premier Football League Matchday 6 encounter in Kano.
The result ended Rivers United’s two-match winning streak and denied the Pride of Rivers the opportunity to move closer to the summit of the NPFL table. Rivers United had entered the fixture in strong form after defeating Nasarawa United 1-1 away before recording emphatic victories over Kun Khalifat and Warri Wolves.
Their most recent outing before the trip to Kano produced a 5-0 demolition of Kun Khalifat, with Salman Abubakar scoring twice, while Chijioke Mbaoma, Wasiu Falolu and Ekene Awazie were also on target.
However, Rivers United struggled to reproduce that attacking efficiency against a disciplined Ranchers Bees side. The hosts remained compact defensively and successfully frustrated the visitors throughout the encounter.
Ranchers Bees came into the match after a mixed run of results. They had defeated Bendel Insurance 2-1 on September 19 before suffering a narrow 1-0 loss to defending champions Rangers four days later. The point against Rivers United therefore represents a useful response for the Kaduna-based club.
For Rivers United, the draw keeps their unbeaten start intact but represents two points dropped in their pursuit of the leading teams. Before the fixture, the Port Harcourt club had recorded three wins and one draw from four league matches.
The goalless result also highlights the competitive nature of the early NPFL campaign, with several clubs separated by only a handful of points.
Rivers United will now turn their attention to their next league assignment against Katsina United on September 30, while Ranchers Bees will prepare for their meeting with Kwara United on October 4.
Ranchers Bees Hold Rivers United to Goalless Draw
