NPFL: Abia Warriors hold Rivers United in Okigwe

Desmond Iwuchukwu

Rivers United FC of Port Harcourt played out a one-all draw against 10-man Abia Warriors in matchday 13 of the Nigeria Professional Football League NPFL game played in Okigwe.

Uche Onwuansanya’s goal helps Rivers United secure a vital draw against Abia Warriors

Abia Warriors had to play 60 minutes without forward Valentine Odoh after he was sent off for a foul on Temple Emekayi.

But Paul Samson gave the host a first-half lead inside 2 minutes of added time before Uche Onwuansanya slotted Rivers United’s equalizer on 49 minutes.

Rivers United remains in 2nd place with 26 points, 1 point behind Plateau United.

Speaking to newsmen after the game, Technical Manager of Rivers United Stanley Eguma attributes the result of the game to hard luck.

Stanley Eguma said the team should have won the match after dominating the game throughout the encounter.

”It was not a bad result because we were able to salvage a point. But I think that we should have won this game because we dominated from the beginning till the end. Even when they scored the goal that was against the run of play, they got that goal, and second half we came back and the players responded quickly, and ever since then, the pressure was on them. We dominated the game and played better. We attacked more than them. I think we should have been to get the winning goal. Especially the last minute that Fortune Omonuwari lost a scoring chance”.

”Well, it’s a game of football. Sometimes you get it right while sometimes you don’t. Today getting a draw here was not an easy thing. Abia Warriors also played well because they too are a troubled team and they throw away everything to get three points but unfortunately, we went away with a point he said” he said.

The Pride of Rivers will welcome Rangers International FC to the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium on Sunday, 20th February 2022