Rivers United swallow El-Kanemi Warriors, reclaim NPFL top spot

Rivers United underlined their title credentials yesterday as they stormed back to the top of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) table with a commanding 3–0 victory over El Kanemi Warriors at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium. On a rain-soaked evening in Port Harcourt, Wisdom Samuel and Chijioke Mbaoma delivered the goals in the rescheduled week […]

Rivers United underlined their title credentials yesterday as they stormed back to the top of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) table with a commanding 3–0 victory over El Kanemi Warriors at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium.

On a rain-soaked evening in Port Harcourt, Wisdom Samuel and Chijioke Mbaoma delivered the goals in the rescheduled week 23 match, to propel the “Pride of Rivers” above their closest rivals, Enugu Rangers, ending a run of narrow wins with their most convincing performance of the season.

Samuel, making his first league start since arriving from Heartland FC, wasted little time justifying his inclusion. The winger opened the scoring inside nine minutes, setting the tempo for a dominant display by the hosts.

Having spent much of the season coming off the bench since his debut against Shooting Stars, the forward seized his opportunity with a performance that announced his arrival in style.

Mbaoma then took centre stage. The former NPFL top scorer, who joined Rivers United as a free agent after leaving Al Ittihad SC, had struggled to rediscover his scoring touch.

That changed shortly after the break when he calmly dispatched a penalty to double the advantage and ease the nerves around the stadium.

Any lingering doubts were completely erased when Samuel struck again, rifling home a superb effort to complete his brace and seal a comprehensive win that drew loud applause from the home supporters.

Beyond the scoreline, the result carried wider significance. Rivers United have now gone six matches unbeaten against El Kanemi Warriors, recording three wins and two draws in that period, further underlining their growing dominance in the fixture.

Crucially, the victory lifts coach Finidi George’s side back to the summit of the NPFL standings, two points clear of Enugu Rangers with two games still in hand, a potentially decisive advantage as the season enters its defining phase.

Attention now turns to Sunday’s South-South derby against Bendel Insurance, a fixture that promises both local bragging rights and major implications for the title race, as Rivers United look to consolidate their grip on the top spot.