Rivers United Move Joint-Top, Extend Unbeaten Run With Key NPFL Win

Rivers United continued their strong Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) campaign by securing a 2–1 comeback victory over Plateau United in Jos, strengthening their title bid and extending their unbeaten run this season.

The Pride of Rivers were pegged back when Plateau United took the lead in the 20th minute through Nenrot Silas, but Rivers United fought back after halftime. David Boluwaji Sholumade levelled in the 53rd minute, and a late own goal from a cross by Aniekeme Okon gave Rivers United the decisive edge.

The result lifted Rivers United to 30 points from 15 matches, placing them joint-top of the NPFL table alongside Nasarawa United, with a game in hand. The performance also extended their unbeaten streak in the league to eight matches, highlighting the consistency they’ve built under coach Finidi George.

Rivers United now return to Port Harcourt to host Wikki Tourists with a chance to take outright control of the standings and further solidify their title ambitions.

Editorial

There is a geography of momentum in football places where form feels as tangible as the turf underfoot and results begin to resemble inevitabilities. Rivers United’s latest victory in Jos, a 2–1 comeback win over Plateau United, is not merely another scoreline it is a manifestation of temperament and ambition converging at a decisive point in the NPFL season.

Being pegged back early in a match can unsettle even the most assured of sides, but Rivers United’s response an equaliser and then a winning moment sprung from collective persistence and a flash of attacking intent speaks volumes about their psychological shape. Composure under adversity and a willingness to shift gears mid-game are hallmarks of teams that not only compete for honours but contend with authority. This Rivers side, under Finidi George, has cultivated both.

What makes this unbeaten run telling is not just its length eight matches without loss but the narrative of growth it represents. In a league defined by its unpredictability and fierce competition, consistency is the rarest commodity. Rivers United have not only avoided defeat they have done so in a manner that has drawn them level with the leaders, Nasarawa United, and poised them for an even stronger mid-season position.

Football is often remembered not for early promise but for crucial turning points, and this comeback in a hostile setting qualifies as one. Victories forged in adversity do more than add points they instil belief. As the league pushes deeper into its decisive phase, Rivers United’s blend of resilience and tactical flexibility suggests they have more to offer not just in the next fixture, but in the larger arc of a title race that remains open, engaging and fiercely contested.

Did You Know?

1. Rivers United have gone eight NPFL matches without defeat, underscoring their consistent form in the 2025/26 season.
2. Their recent 2–1 win over Plateau United was only their second away victory of the campaign, highlighting the value of points gained on the road.
3. The comeback victory took Rivers United to 30 points from 15 games, placing them joint-top of the league table with Nasarawa United but with a game in hand.
4. Rivers United have been particularly strong away, accumulating more away points than any other NPFL side this season to bolster their title push.
5. The club plays its home matches at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt, a venue known for energetic support and formidable home atmospheres.