NPFL: Sunshine Stars Hand Rivers United Second Season Defeat

A fourth-minute goal by Leonard Ugochukwu condemned Rivers United to its second defeat of the 2021/22 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season as Sunshine Stars made a winning return to the Akure Township Stadium on match day 24.

The league leaders Rivers United had lost once all season, a 1-0 defeat away at title rivals Plateau United in February, before the encounter against Sunshine Stars.

However, Ugochukwu headed home from a free kick by Ikenna Cooper to give Sunshine Stars an early lead. The visitors nearly got an instant equaliser when Ishaq Rafiu was found with space in the box, but the former Shooting Stars forward took too many touches and lost the chance.

Both teams made several changes in the second half. However, the scoreline didn’t change as the Owena Whales won their first game at their traditional home ground this season.

Sunshine Stars head coach Emmanuel Deutsch believed the occasion of his team’s return to Akure affected their performance.

“Coming back to Akure was not easy on the boys. They wanted to impress the fans,” Sunshine Stars coach Deutsch said.

“It affected them with the chances they failed to convert, but we will improve on that.”

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Meanwhile, Rivers United technical adviser Stanley Eguma blamed his team’s defeat on missed chances.

“We missed a lot of scoring chances today. That was our bane and it is normal in the game of football. So I congratulate our opponents for today’s win,” Eguma said.

“Everybody knows the league is not over. We lost points today and it will not help our ambition, but that is not the end. We will go back and re-strategise. It is not over until it is over.”

The win lifts Sunshine Stars to the sixth position on the NPFL standings while Rivers United maintained the top spot, and a four-point advantage over second-placed Plateau United.

Highlights
Sunshine Stars 1-0 Rivers United#NPFL22 #MD24 #SUNRIV@Eunisell1 @EunisellSports @MayukuCharles pic.twitter.com/7BJBd6SSuP

— Rivers United FC (@RiversUnitedFC) April 21, 2022

Thursday’s NPFL results

Akwa United 6-1 Nasarawa United
Enyimba 4-0 Kano Pillars
Sunshine Stars 1-0 Rivers United
Heartland 1-0 Plateau United
MFM FC 0-2 Wikki Tourists

Chidi Nwoke/NPFL.