Rivers United F.C. Explained

Clubname:Rivers United
Fullname:Rivers United Football Club
Nickname:The Pride of Rivers
Ground:Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium
Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
Capacity:40,000
League:Nigeria Professional Football League
Season:2023–24
Position:Nigeria Professional Football League, 8th of 20
Website:http://www.riversunitedfc.com.ng/
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Rivers United Football Club is a Nigerian professional football club based in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, that participates in the Nigerian Professional Football League, the highest level of domestic Nigerian football. The club was formed by the merger of Sharks F.C. and Dolphins F.C. in 2016. Their home stadium was the Yakubu Gowon Stadium, formerly Liberation Stadium, in Elekahia that has a seating capacity of 30,000.[1] They moved to the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium stadium in 2020. The stadium, renovated in 2020, has a capacity of 40,000.[2] [3] There is also a female team, Rivers Angels F.C., which is one of the best in Nigeria and Africa.[4]

Rivers United FC has remained in the top flight since its first season. In the 2020-2021 CAF Confederation Cup season, Rivers defeated South African opponent Bloemfontein Celtic home and away to set up a highly anticipated matchup against neighbors Enyimba in the final qualifying round for a spot in the group stage. They lost the tie on penalties after a 1–1 aggregate scoreline[5]

History

Rivers United was founded in 2016 after the Rivers state government got permission to merge Dolphins FC and Sharks FC. Both clubs were run by the state government and were experiencing financial difficulty.[6] Sharks were relegated to the First Division in 2015 while Dolphins had barely escaped relegation after drawing their final match.[7] Rivers United's crest contains both a shark and a dolphin as a result of the merge.[8]

Stanley Eguma was appointed coach and led them to a win in their first league match, 1–0 over Enyimba.[9]

The club finished second in the 2016 Nigerian Premier League which qualified them for the 2017 CAF Champions League for the first time.[10] A four-goal second-leg win over Mali's AS Bamako with Esosa Igbinoba and Bernard Ovoke each scoring a brace put Rivers past the preliminary round.[11] However, they were eliminated by Sudan's Al-Merrikh 4–3 on aggregate in the first round after losing a 3–0 first round lead.[12]

2021–22: Nigerian Professional League Champions

On 25 June 2022, Rivers United won their first Nigeria Professional Football League title with four games to spare after Akwa United beat their nearest challengers, Plateau United 2–1 in Uyo.[13]

Rivers United ended the season with 77 points, breaking the league record of 73 points in a season.[14] [15]

The 2021–22 Nigeria Professional Football League title is their first league title since the merger between Dolphins and Sharks FC of Port Harcourt in 2016.[16] It is also the first NPFL title by a Rivers-based side since the Dolphins won in 2011.[17] [18]

Rivers United won 23 games, drew 8, and lost 7 of their 38 league games as they claimed the 2021-22 league title with 10 points ahead of their closest rivals, Plateau United.[19] [20] [21]

Rivers united players and officials were awarded $20,000 each by the Rivers state government for their league triumph in 2022 and were promised another US$40,000 if they qualify for the 2022-2023 Caf champions league group stage.[22] [23]

Honour

Domestic

Performance in CAF competitions

3 appearances

2017 – First Round

2022 – second Round

2022–23 – Second Round

4 appearances

2017 – Group stage

2020–21 – Play-off round

2021–22 – Play-off round

2022–23 – Quarter Finals

Staff

Head coach

Assistant coach

Acting General Manager

Welfare Secretary

Media officer

Current squad

Updated 8 February 2024

(Captain)

Rivers Angels

Further information: Rivers Angels F.C.

Rivers Angels F.C. (formerly Larry Angels F.C.) is a Nigerian professional football club based in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. They play in the Nigeria Women Premier League, the top flight division in the female soccer league system in Nigeria.

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Dolphins, Sharks merged, now Rivers Utd F.C.. 23 February 2016. Vanguard. 19 February 2016.
  2. Web site: Rivers Utd, Rivers Angels to Use Amiesimaka Stadium for Home Matches – THISDAYLIVE .
  3. Web site: Iyaye Ya yabawa Yunkurin Gov. Wike a Gyaran Kayayyaki Ga Rivers United, Rivers Angels . 28 September 2020 .
  4. Web site: Nigeria – Resilient Rivers Angels retain Women's League title. CAF-Confedération Africaine du. Football. CAFOnline.com.
  5. Web site: CAFCC: Rivers United Thrash Bloemfontein Celtic, Book Date with Enyimba . 23 January 2021 .
  6. Web site: Dolphins, Sharks F.C merge to form new club. 19 February 2016. Pulse Nigeria.
  7. Web site: Dolphins, Sharks change name to Rivers United. Babajide. Orevba. 19 February 2016. Legit.ng – Nigeria news..
  8. Web site: Dolphins renamed Rivers United Football Club | Goal.com. Goal.
  9. Web site: 'We can't lose to Enyimba'- Rivers United coach Stanley Eguma stokes up the fire ahead of must win title cracker this week. 6 June 2016. Linda Ikeji's Blog.
  10. Web site: CAF clubs competitions draws: North African ties for Rangers, FC Ifeanyi Ubah. 22 December 2016.
  11. Web site: Rivers United trash Real Bamako. supersport.com.
  12. Web site: CAFCL: Rivers United Blow Big First Leg Lead Vs Al-Merrikh, Crash Out . Agberebi . James . 18 March 2017 . 25 October 2018.
  13. Web site: 2022-06-25 . Rivers United claim maiden NPFL crown after Plateau United lose in Uyo . 2022-10-05 . Nigeria sports news, transfers & gossips.
  14. Web site: Rivers United Lift 2021/22 Nigeria Professional Football League Trophy as Dakkada Beat Drop on Last Day. – Inspiration FM, #1 Family Radio Station . 18 July 2022 . 2022-12-11.
  15. Web site: Chidiezie . Jidechi . 2022-07-18 . 10 things you should know about the 2022 NPFL champions Rivers United . 2022-12-11 . Pulse Nigeria.
  16. Web site: 2022-06-26 . Rivers United win first Nigerian league title . 2022-12-11 . The Guardian. Nigeria.
  17. Web site: 2022-06-25 . Rivers United claim maiden NPFL crown after Plateau United lose in Uyo . 2022-12-11 . SportsRation.
  18. Web site: 2022-07-04 . NPFL: Eguma hails dogged Pillars after sealing record points . 2022-12-11 . Punch Newspapers.
  19. Web site: Leaders Rivers United 10 points clear after big win over closest rivals Plateau United – Score Nigeria . 2022-12-11.
  20. Web site: 2021-22 league title NPFL azscore.ng . 2022-12-11 . azscore.ng.
  21. Web site: Rivers United . 2022-12-11 . betsapi.com.
  22. Web site: Wike redeems $20k promise to each Rivers United players for winning NPFL . 24 December 2022 .
  23. Web site: Wike Gifts Rivers United Players $20,000 Each, Trip To Madrid, Medal – Channels Television.
  24. Web site: Rivers Utd get management team. supersport.com.