NPFL: Enyimba Coach Blames ‘Poor Marksmanship’ for 0-0 Draw with Rivers United

The highly anticipated clash in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) between two giants of Nigerian football ended in a frustrating goalless draw, with Enyimba International FC held by rivals Rivers United. The result, secured during the NPFL matchday seven encounter in Aba, has drawn sharp criticism from Enyimba’s technical adviser, Stanley Eguma, who pointed directly to his team’s significant inability to convert numerous scoring opportunities.

Dependable NG reports that despite the match being a tactical and keenly contested affair, the home side, known as the People’s Elephant, failed to capitalize on their clear advantage in creating chances. The nine-time champions dominated large portions of the encounter against the resilient Rivers United squad, managed by Finidi George, yet their control did not translate into goals, leaving their faithful supporters disappointed.

Speaking to reporters after the game, Stanley Eguma was vocal about the performance. While commending the overall effort and commitment of his players, he pinpointed their glaring lack of clinical finishing as the primary reason for the dropped points. “It’s a good game, a very interesting one that contains all the trappings of a grade A Premier League match. My players gave their best, but we were wasteful in front of the goal,” Eguma stated, expressing his frustration. He highlighted specific periods of the game where the lack of accuracy proved fatal to their winning ambition, noting, “In the first half, we created several clear chances that could have made the difference, but we just couldn’t take them.” This persistent issue of poor marksmanship suggests a need for intense training focused on attacking efficacy as the season progresses.

The Rivers United team, for their part, executed a robust defensive strategy, successfully absorbing the pressure and ultimately securing a valuable point on the road. The outcome means Enyimba, despite the stalemate, managed to maintain a strong presence near the top of the NPFL standings, retaining their second position on the league table. The quest for a record-extending tenth league title continues, but the team’s technical crew must urgently address the lack of sharpness in the final third. Enyimba’s next fixture will see them take on Kun Khalifat FC, a match where the pressure will be high to ensure chances are converted and the team secures maximum points to keep pace with the league leaders.