With Nigeria’s bitcoin market being the second biggest in the world (with a staggering $566 million being traded in the last 5 years), there’s only one thing in Nigeria that is more popular than bitcoin: football.
The 50th Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) got underway on 27th December 2020. The previous season had come to a premature end as the effects of Covid-19 were felt but, after a startling campaign, Rivers United were left sitting second in the league after the final ball had been kicked.
Given that United only came into existence in 2016, following the merger of Dolphin FC and Sharks, a second-place finish is more than just respectable. With the squad and the manager frustrated that they were unable to see the season out, Rivers United came into this season with high hopes and a determination to go one better. A sportybet Nigeria style would see many fans placing a bet on them doing just that.
Off to a flying start
When you’re looking to be the next champions, the start of the season is all-important. Too many dropped points early on and it becomes impossible to make them up, and when it’s getting close towards the end of the season, it is those points lost at the start that can make all the difference. Rivers United don’t seem to have those concerns this season.
An amazing start to the season has seen the winning 4 out of their first 5 opening matches. Wins against Enugu Rangers, Abia Warriors, Kwara United, and Heartland have meant that United have found the back of the net 8 times in 5 games. The only hiccup along the way, so far, was a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Wikki Tourists.
With previous woes relating to United’s performance in the early days, Stanley Eguma is likely to be a happy man right now. Eguma has worked hard to assemble the perfect squad and has now achieved the happy balance between youth and experience. What could cause an upset to what is an almost perfect start is the strain of pushing for league dominance while also on a cup run.
The CAF Confederation Cup
The Confederation Cup is an annual competition that has been held since 2004. Clubs qualify based on their national league performance, as well as in domestic cups. With last season being brought to an early end due to the current pandemic, Rivers United were left sitting 2nd in the table which meant qualification.
In the preliminary round, United tied with Futuro over the 2 legs and saw the match being decided on penalties. Rivers United came away with the victory and won the right to face Bloem Celtic in the 1st round. 2-0 up after the first leg, and it appears that Rivers United are set to progress even further in this event.
This competition saw Rivers United’s season start earlier than other clubs in their national league. With the event starting pre-season, it has meant that Rivers had already played a fair bit of football before the season kicked off. This could be what has led to such a blistering start but, equally, it may come back to bit: a long, drawn out season means tired players with their performance being affected.
The perfect season
With how the season has got underway for Rivers United, there is a very real prospect of topping the league, as well as having an extended run in the Confederation Cup. For Eguma and his team, the challenge now is not to blow it! The experienced players know well enough that the first few games do not necessarily define your season. Keeping the younger players grounded and in check will be a vital part of keeping the momentum going. With this in place, it is more than reasonable ti believe that Rivers United are unstoppable and are on their way to a glorious season.
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