Enyimba, Rivers Utd in NPL Winner-Takes-All Battle to Crown NPL Champions 

Duro Ikhazuagbe

Rivers United and Enyimba International have so much at stake this afternoon as curtain falls on the title deciding Nigeria Premier League Championship Super 6 Playoffs in Lagos.

Both teams are tied on the top of the log on eight points apiece with the Elephant of Aba ahead on goals difference.

With N100million prize money plus ticket to CAF Champions League on the line, it certainly promises to be a bruising battle this afternoon at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena at the Onikan Water front in Lagos.

Aside Enyimba and Rivers United, Remo Stars on six points who have a date with Bendel Insurance are waiting in the wing to profit from any slip that may happen should both Enyimba and Rivers United play draw.

The Ikenne club can still emerge champions despite trailing the front runners should the unexpected happen in the fixture between Enyimba and Rivers United. That miracle can only happen if draw specialist, Bendel Insurance whose unbeaten 21-game run ended against Enyimba last Friday succumb to defeat to the Ikenne team.

This is the first time in a very long while that the Nigerian topflight league is going down to the wire to decide the winner. It is a great testimony to the beautiful work that the Gbenga Elegbeleye-led Interim Management Committee has done this season to turn around the NPL.

Before last Friday, Rivers United were temporarily at the top until Enyimba put up a commanding performance to beat Sunshine Stars 3-0.

On Friday, the Match-day 4 high noon clash had pitched for the first time this season, Group A winners, Rivers United and Group B table toppers, Bendel Insurance. 

With both sides drawing their Match-day 3 games, coming into their Friday schedule, the first 45mins was cagey until Maurice Chukwu put Rivers United in front in added time, with the last kick after clinically dispatching his strike into the roof of the net off a corner kick which Bendel Insurance failed to clear. 

Not to be deterred, the Benin Arsenal took the battle to the defending champions but had nothing to show for it despite the introduction of Vincent Augustus, Imade Osarenkhoe and Efe Aghama. 

Like they did in the first period, the Stanley Eguma led side again scored late into the second half after a counter attacking run paid off with two substitutes, Ukeme Williams and Onoja Joseph combining with the unmarked Onoja Joseph slamming home a cut back from Williams. 

Divine Nwachukwu, on a day he received his Super Eagles call up rose the highest in the box to nod home a cross from Vincent Augustus in what will only serve as a consolation for the boys in yellow. 

The 2-1 defeat ensured a halt to Bendel Insurance’s 21 match unbeaten run in the 2022/23 NPFL season. 

It also saw Bendel Insurance lose a match in the NPFL for the first time since they lost to Rivers United in 2019. It was the first time they faced Rivers United since the defeat at the Sharks Stadium in May 2019. 

How They Stand (After Match-day 4)

Team.           P.  W.  D.  L.  GF.  GA. GD. PT

Enyimba.      4.   2.  2.  0.   7.       3.    +4.   8

Rivers Utd.   4.   2.   2.  0.   5.     3.     +2.  8

Remo Stars. 4.   1.    3.  0.   7.     5.     +2.   6

B’Insurance. 4.   0.   3.  1.    3.    4.     -1.    3

Sunshine        4.   0.   2.   2.    2.   6.     -4.  2

Lobi Stars.     4.    0.   2.   2.   0.    3.    -3.   2