Rivers United coach Finidi George has insisted that Sunday’s derby defeat will not knock his side off course in their Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) title challenge.
The Port Harcourt club fell 1-0 to Bayelsa United at the Samson Siasia Stadium, after captain Temple Emekayi diverted the ball into his own net in the 12th minute. Despite the setback, Rivers United remains focused on their campaign to win the league.
Finidi George’s Reaction
After the game, George downplayed the significance of the loss, saying, “If losing to Bayelsa United will give us the league title, I’ll accept it.” He reiterated the team’s ultimate goal for the season: “We know the purpose of our campaign this season is to win the league. It’s quite unfortunate that we lost today.”
The defeat dropped Rivers United to second place in the NPFL standings. However, they still have three outstanding fixtures to play, and George remains confident that they can recover. Rangers International F.C. took advantage of the loss by defeating Nasarawa United F.C. 2-0 at home, moving to the top of the table.
Bendel Insurance’s Dominant Victory
In Benin City, Bendel Insurance F.C. delivered a stunning performance, thrashing Ikorodu City F.C. 4-0 at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium. Alex Oweilayefa starred with a hat-trick, while Wisdom Udom added another goal to complete the rout.
Ikorodu City’s Coach Reflects on Defeat
Ikorodu City coach Bright Ozebagbe was visibly frustrated after his team’s three-match unbeaten run came to an abrupt end. “We were sloppy, and we had chances but we failed to capitalize on them,” he said in his post-match comments.
Ozebagbe also acknowledged the bigger picture: “We are not under pressure to win the league. We just want to try as much as possible to stay in the race.”
Despite the heavy loss, Ikorodu City remain in third place, with 45 points from 28 matches. They continue to be in the hunt for a top finish as the NPFL title race intensifies.
The NPFL Title Race
As the season progresses, Rivers United will look to bounce back from the setback against Bayelsa United. Meanwhile, Bendel Insurance’s dominant win puts them in a strong position to challenge for the top spots. The battle for the NPFL title is far from over, with teams like Rivers United and Ikorodu City continuing to push for a strong finish.
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