Finidi’s Rivers United miss chance to stretch NPFL lead after Shooting Stars heartbreak

Rivers United missed a golden opportunity to extend their position at the top of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) standings following a narrow 2-1 defeat to Shooting Stars.

The rescheduled Matchday 24 fixture, held at the Lekan Salami Stadium, saw the Pride of Rivers fail to capitalise on their recent winning streak.

Rivers United Miss Chance to Stretch NPFL Lead

After securing consecutive home wins against El Kanemi Warriors and Bendel Insurance, many expected the league leaders to dominate, but the away-day blues struck again for the Port Harcourt side.

The match started with Rivers United struggling to find their rhythm. The home side took advantage of this sluggish start when Sodiq Ibrahim found the back of the net in the 34th minute.

This goal gave Shooting Stars a slim lead heading into the halftime break, leaving Finidi George with plenty of tactical adjustments to make.

There was a glimmer of hope for the visitors in the second half. In the 68th minute, Wasiu Falolu scored a crucial equalizer, restoring parity and putting Rivers United back in the hunt for at least a point.

Shooting Stars Heartbreak for the Pride of Rivers

However, the comeback was cut short in dramatic fashion. Just as the match entered stoppage time, Qamar Adegoke scored a late winner for Shooting Stars, snatching all three points and leaving the league leaders empty-handed.

Despite the disappointing result in Ibadan, Rivers United remains at the summit of the NPFL table.

They currently hold a two-point lead over their closest rivals and still possess a game in hand.

This loss marks the team’s fourth defeat of the 2025/26 NPFL campaign, with three of those losses occurring on the road against Barau FC, Bayelsa United, and now the Oluyole Warriors.

Finidi will need to rally his troops quickly as they prepare for another challenging away fixture against Ikorodu City this Sunday.