NPFL Review: Lobi vs Rivers United: 5 Things We Learnt
Lobi Stars defeated Rivers United 1-0 at the Aper Aku Stadium in Makurdi to draw the curtains on the first stanza of the NPFL.
Sunday Ekleche scored from the spot in the 67th minute to secure all three points for the hosts.
Here are five things we learnt…
(1)LOOKING MORE LIKE THE SEASON OF A LEICESTER
The first round of the NPFL has ended with none of the title favourites yet to occupy the number one spot on the table.
The last four championships have been won by Pillars and Enyimba. Expectedly the two ‘bulldozer’ teams were the pundits’ favourites to nick this one, but the top of the ladder has revolved between Rangers, Abia Warriors and now Rivers United. The likes of Wikki are even knocking on the door.
Pillars are hanging around the top just as Enyimba seem to be having a resurgence with the advantage of their outstanding games.
While Enyimba have the quality to go all the way, they seem to have de-emphasised on the league this season. They are more likely to reduce the tempo on the domestic scene when hostilities resume in the Champions League.
Pillars’ inconsistency leaves much to be desired.
Meanwhile, these ‘Leicesters’ are giving it their all.
The ‘Yes we can’ mood around Rivers United was obvious in Makurdi, just as Rangers are so eager to end the 34-year trophy drought.
Given the history of the NPFL, the mid-season table says much about the last day table.
(2)LOBI IS SO DEPENDENT ON OKPOTU
Lobi badly missed the suspended Anthony Okpotu in this game.
Chief coach Evans Ogenyi dismissed this in the post-match briefing, but the fact is that the scoreline could have been much different if Okpotu and Kingsley Eduwo were in the team.
They dominated proceedings in the first half and had eight attempts (four on target) yet the half ended goalless.
A combination of Rotimi Sunday’s brilliance and the strikers’ ‘impotency’ in front of goal undid the hosts.
They needed a striker to put away one of those chances.
(3) ROTIMI IS STILL A TOP KEEPER
Rivers United goalkeeper Rotimi Sunday is easily the most experienced players on the domestic scene. This is a keeper who started in goal for the Super Eagles in the AFCON qualifier against Namibia in Windhoek on June 16, 2001. This was only Joseph Yobo’s fifth cap and the first time Yobo captained the national team.
Rotimi got injured in this game and was replaced by Austin Ejide. Ejide made his debut on this day. Enyeama made his debut about a year later on May 4, 2002 against Kenya.
So, it is right to say Rotimi had been in the national team before Enyeama and Ejide.
He pulled off amazing saves in this game. Rivers United’s push for the championship will depend so much on him being in such imposing form. As they say, in goalkeeping, the older wines taste better.
(4) NONSO WON’T COME ANYWHERE NEAR RIVERS UNITED PENALTIES SOON
If the words of Rivers assistant coach, Willy Udube, are to be taken seriously, Chinonso Okonkwo may not be given penalty responsibilities soon.
United got a penalty in the last minute of added time, But instead of picking his target and hitting the ball with precision the Rashidi Yekini way, he tried to do a ‘Ronaldo’ looking for the top corner. The ball went into the sky, nowhere near target. Woeful penalty!
That should have secured a valuable away point for his team.
Poor boy! He had a good game, but that kick was so ‘childish’.
Udube was furious. He said: “This is the problem with Nigerian players. Instead of them to do the simple things, they want to imitate these foreigners they watch on TV. Just to pick his spot and put the ball away and he went for the fanciful.”
(5) MAN OF THE MATCH: CENTRE REFEREE OKORO
Yes, the man of the match was not a player. All hail centre referee Chrisantus Okoro.
He epitomized the standard of officiating in the NPFL.
He reduced the home team to 10 men with a second yellow card and red card to Solomon Kwambe, then awarded a penalty to the visitors at the dot of time when Moses Bunde handled the ball in the box.
The easier and safer call would have been to ignore the penalty appeals and end the game but he had to award the spot kick by the way, it was the same situation that led to the penalty that resulted in Lobi’s goal.
Courage and firmness were refereeing virtues displayed by this man. Fittingly, he earned the admiration and praises of all at the arena.
LOBI: 30 Okemute Odah, 18 Solomon Kwambe, 31 Shehu Nasiru, 26 John Aguda, 5 Anthony Agbaji, 6 Davis Nya, 7 Soumaila Kone (Moses Bunde 75), 20 David Tyavkase (Sunday Alimi 59, 29 Patrick Ikeokwu(Ukeyima Akombo, 90), 8 Emmanuel Ajia, 28 Sunny Eleche
RIVERS UNITED: 22 Sunday Rotimi, 33 Ofem inah, 3 Ali Chiwendu, 21 Yusuf Jaiyeola, 19 Festus Austin, 12 Gabriel Olalekan, 20 Obomate Fredrick, 14 Chinonso Okonkwo, 7 Ovoke Bernard (Guy Venance 87), 27 Weli Christian, 10 Victor Alegbe (Daniel Isreal 57)
STATS:
Lobi 1-0 Rivers; Corner 4-3; Attempts 11-6; On target 6-4; Fouls 14-17; Off side 3-4; Throws 16-9; Yellow Card 2-2; Red Card 1-0.
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