Rivers United head coach, Finidi George, admitted to having mixed feelings despite his side’s narrow 1–0 victory over Wikki Tourists, a result that lifted the Port Harcourt club to the summit of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) table.
A moment of brilliance from Taofeek Otaniyi proved decisive at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, as Rivers United scraped past a resilient Wikki Tourists side to claim all three points and move two points clear at the top, at 33 points over Nasarawa 31 points.
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Speaking after the match, Finidi acknowledged the importance of the win but expressed reservations about his team’s overall performance.
“It’s quite mixed feelings, to be honest. I can’t really say where the game was going at some point. It was off and on, there was no steady pace,” Finidi said.
“We are happy with the three points, but in terms of the game itself, I can’t really pick moments where we controlled or dominated. That’s the strange feeling I have after the match. At some point we struggled, and that’s something we must address.”
How It Happened
The hosts found the breakthrough in the 19th minute when Taofeek Otaniyi expertly lobbed the Wikki Tourists goalkeeper after timing his run perfectly to meet a cross from Samson Obi.
With chances few and far between, Rivers United relied on their defensive solidity to see out the contest.
The Pride of Rivers once again showcased their organisation at the back, recording their 11th clean sheet in 16 league matches this season.
The win marked Rivers United’s ninth victory of the campaign and extended their unbeaten run to nine consecutive NPFL matches, with just one defeat recorded so far.
Rivers United will now turn their attention to a challenging away fixture as they travel to Kano to face Barau FC on Friday, December 19, in a rescheduled Matchday 5 encounter.
Finidi’s side will be aiming to maintain their strong league form and consolidate their position at the top of the NPFL standings.
