NPFL: Rivers United beat Sunshine Stars to clinch Super Six spot

Reigning Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) champions Rivers United took another step towards retaining their crown after they beat Sunshine Stars 1-0 on Monday to book a place in the Super Six PlayOff.

In a rescheduled Match Day 12 encounter played at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt, midfielder Morice Chukwu scored the only goal of the game in the 27th minute to give the Pride of Rivers maximum points.

United went into Monday’s game knowing that a win would take them to the summit of Group B and guarantee them a place in the Super Six playoff with two games to spare and they did just what they had to do.

Stanley Eguma’s men opened up a barrage of attacks in the opening exchanges and pilloried their opponent’s third with incessant attacks which resulted in multiple corner and free kicks but Sunshine goalkeeper Mustafa Lawal and his defence line stood tall.

It was however not a surprise when the hosts got what turned out to be the only goal of the game shortly before the half hour mark. A sweet attacking move ended in Nyima Nwagua teeing up Chukwu whose 25 yards effort flew past the despairing hands of Lawal.

Sunshine Stars became markedly better after the break although it was just in the containment of their hosts rather than in the creation of scoring opportunities of their own as United goalkeeper Sochima Victor remained largely untested throughout the duration.

United still went closest to scoring again in the second half but were denied by a combination of the woodwork and goalkeeper Lawal in a goalmouth scramble late in the game.

The result ensured that both Rivers United and Lobi Stars have now sealed their places in the Super Six PlayOff with 30 points apiece, while Sunshine Stars will hope that United do them a favour by beating Doma United in their final rescheduled game on Thursday.

“The last game is a must win for us and also our destiny is no longer in our hands. We have to depend on the results of other zones. But the minimum we can do is to try and win the game and hope that the other results favour us,” Sunshine Stars head coach Edith Agoye told www.aclsports.com after the game.

Sunshine Stars will face relegated Dakkada FC in the game on Sunday while Doma United will cross from Port Harcourt to Umuahia to face Abia Warriors in the final Match Day.

As reported earlier on Monday, the NPFL Super Six PlayOff will hold in Lagos from June 3 to June 11, 2023. Bendel Insurance, Rivers United and Lobi Stars are the teams to have now confirmed their spots in the competition.