By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
Sports Writer, kick442.com Nigeria
Rivers United continue their 2020/21 Nigeria Professional Football League campaign with one of their longest trips of the season to Katsina United on Thursday evening.
The “Pride of Rivers” visited Muhammadu Dikko Stadium Katsina as recently as 14th April 2019, when they were unfortunate to end up losing 2-1, despite putting up a strong challenge against the host.
Overview
Game: Katsina United vs Rivers United
Competition: Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL)
Match Day: Eight
Current positions of respective clubs on the NPFL log: Katsina United: 16th (7pts), Rivers United: 1st (15pts)
Date: Thursday, February 4, 2021
Venue: Muhammadu Dikko Stadium Katsina
Time: 4 pm
Live Coverage
There will be robust coverage of this game by our media team (that will include videos and photos from the venue) simultaneously via our official Twitter account (@RiversUnitedFC) and official Whatsap channel from 3:15 pm on match day.
Team news…
Rivers United
Rivers United has several confirmed absentees and injury doubts ahead of Thursday’s game.
Technical Adviser Stanley Eguma will find a replacement for forward Bobby Clement who missed Sunday’s NPFL Matchday 7 win over Adamawa United with an injury but, following treatment, the manager believes he will be ready for Thursday’s clash against Nasarawa United.
Meanwhile, Fortune Omoniwari who was substituted in the last game against Adamawa United as a precaution returned to the training pitch himself raising the prospect of him facing Katsina United.
Oshobe Shuji looks set to continue in midfield duties after a very impressive showing in the 1-0 win against Adamawa United. Pacy winger Ishaq Kayode, whose first touch of the ball resulted in a super assist that led to Fortune Omoniwari’s match-winner in United’s last match will be the cynosure of all eyes.
Assistant captain Chigozie Ihunda remains a doubt as he is yet to regain full fitness after being out for days,
Destiny Ashadi returns to a city where he was virtually worshiped because of what he was able to achieve with Katsina United.
The opposition – Katsina United
Despite a spirited performance in their last NPFL game against Enyimba which ended in a 1-0 lose, Coach Baldwin Bazuaye will seek to get his first point since taking over the helm of affairs for the “Changi boys”.
Goalkeeper Yusuf Mohammed will continue in goal after putting up a decent showing against Enyimba including saving a penalty in Aba.
Followers of Katsina United will be hopeful that forwards Rasheed Ahmed and Usman Barau find the road to the goal against Rivers United while Gambo Mohammed will be hoping to put up a decent showing against a team he once played for.
Form Guide:
Katsina United : W, L, W, L, L, D, L
Last 7 matches for Katsina United
31 Jan: Enyimba 1-0 Katsina United
23 Jan: Katsina United 0-0 Plateau United
17 Jan: Nasarawa United 1-0 Katsina United
13 Jan: Warri Wolves 3-0 Katsina United
10 Jan: Katsina United 2-0 Adamawa United
3 Jan: Kano Pillars 2-0 Katsina United
28 Dec: Katsina United 3-2 Heartland Owerri
Rivers United : W, W, W, L, W, L, W
Last 7 matches for Rivers United
31 Jan: Rivers United 1-0 Adamawa United
27 Jan: Kano Pillars 1-0 Rivers United
17 Jan: Rivers United 3-1 Heartland
13 Jan: Wikki Tourist 1-0 Rivers United
10 Jan: Rivers United 3-0 Kwara United
2 Jan: Abia Warriors 0-1 Rivers United
30 Dec: Rivers United 1-0 Rangers
Previous meetings…
Katsina United and Rivers United have met 6 times down the years.
In the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), the overall head-to-head stands at played 6, Katsina United wins 3, Rivers United wins 2, draws 1.
So, in short, the “Changi Boys” have had the edge over Rivers United down the years!
Head To Head Record
15 Dec 2019: Rivers United 2-0 Katsina United
14 Apr 2019: Katsina United 2-1 Rivers United
6 Mar 2019: Rivers United 1-0 Katsina United
8 Apr 2018; Katsina United 2-1 Rivers United
7 Aug 2017: Rivers United 1-1 Katsina United
27 Apr 2017: Katsina United 2-0 Rivers United
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