Rivers United assistant coach Yemi Olanrewaju says the club is focused on collecting points, not protecting an unbeaten record. The Port Harcourt side remain the only unbeaten team in the NPFL after a 0-0 draw with Barau FC.
Want our football coverage to show up first?
Add FootballInNigeria as a preferred source and our stories get a "Preferred" badge in your Google Top Stories, AI Overviews, and AI Mode results.
Rivers United assistant coach Yemi Olanrewaju has said the team’s main focus is gathering as many points as possible this NPFL season, rather than dwelling on their unbeaten record. He spoke after the goalless draw with Barau FC in Port Harcourt.
The Matchday 9 game at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium was suspended on Sunday after 75 minutes because of a waterlogged pitch, and completed on Monday. The result leaves Rivers United as the only unbeaten team in the league, on 17 points from nine games. New Bet9ja users can claim Bet9ja’s YOHAIG opening offer.
Olanrewaju said the squad is ready and that the pressure is on Rivers United to do better than last season.
He dismissed the unbeaten run as unimportant, saying the club simply wants to collect as many points as it can.
The key, he explained, is defensive: not conceding. “If you don’t concede, you can’t lose a game,” he said, calling that the club’s philosophy.
Rivers United are level on 17 points with Rangers International, who have played one game fewer, and are ahead of the defending champions on goal difference. Rangers’ game against Bendel Insurance was postponed, with the club involved in continental competition that weekend. NPFL fans can try Super9ja’s free NPFL jackpot alongside the fixtures.
Rivers United now face a South-South derby at Bendel Insurance at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City on Sunday, October 25, with kickoff at 4pm.
A philosophy built on clean sheets suits a side that has drawn five of its nine games. Rivers United have kept the defeats off the board, but too many draws could cost them in a tight title race.
Three points separate the top six, so a draw in Benin may not be enough to keep them at the top.
Readers new to betting can see the Bet9ja promotion code reference before Sunday’s trip.
📌 Did You Know?
- Rivers United won the NPFL title in 2021/22 under coach Stanley Eguma.
- Rivers United’s captain is Stephen Manyo.
- Barau FC led the table after Matchday 6 on 12 points and now have 14 after the draw.
- Earlier this season, Rivers United also drew 0-0 with Ranchers Bees.
- After eight games, Rivers United’s goal difference was +11, compared with Rangers’ +5.
