The outstanding Matchday 12 tie has been pushed back by two weeks, with Sporting Lagos now holding two postponed league games.
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The Nigeria Premier Football League has moved the Matchday 12 game between Sporting Lagos and Rivers United from Wednesday, November 18, to Wednesday, December 2, as FootballInNigeria.com.ng reports. The game will be played at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Onikan, Lagos.
Sporting Lagos announced the new date on its official X account and urged supporters to turn out in large numbers. The club, known as the Tech Boys, did not give a reason for the change.
Sporting Lagos are 13th in the table with 15 points from 10 matches, while Rivers United are sixth with 18 points from 11. New Bet9ja users can look up Bet9ja’s YOHAIG registration code.
Both clubs are in action this weekend in Matchday 13. Sporting travel to Ozoro to face Warri Wolves, while Rivers visit Kwara United, with both games on Sunday at 4:00pm.
Sporting Lagos also have a postponed Matchday 10 game against Enugu Rangers, set for November 25. That gives them two outstanding league fixtures to catch up on.
The venue is a pressure point. The Mobolaji Johnson Arena is home to three NPFL clubs, Sporting Lagos, Inter Lagos and Ikorodu City, and fixtures there have been shifted before. In September, a Lagos derby between Sporting and Ikorodu was moved to September 30 because of a political event. Readers following the table can see the Bet9ja promo guide for new users.
Rivers United also face a sanction hanging over them. The NPFL handed them a suspended ₦15 million fine and a suspended three point deduction, with a final warning, after the club was accused of obstructing the league’s broadcast partners in their Matchday 11 game against Rangers.
The delay gives Rivers more time to settle that issue and build on their sixth place start. They also have games in hand over most of the chasing pack.
The two-week wait gives both sides time to improve before they finally meet in Lagos. Fans can make a Super9ja pick for Sunday’s NPFL games before the new date arrives.
Sporting Lagos will hope the home crowd helps them climb the table.
📌 Did You Know?
- Rivers United lost last season’s title race on the final day to Rangers, who won a record-equalling ninth NPFL crown.
- The Mobolaji Johnson Arena also hosted that final-day game between Ikorodu City and Rangers.
- Rivers United lost 1-0 at Ikorodu City at the same venue in a rescheduled Matchday 30 game in March 2026.
- A previous Matchday 13 meeting between Sporting Lagos and Rivers United was moved a day to February 8, 2024, at the same ground.
- Rivers United were Nigeria’s only representatives in CAF club competitions in 2025/26.
