NPFL: Eguma reveals how Rivers United will replace starters ahead of CAF Champions League

Stanley Eguma was in Ibadan last Sunday in Rivers United's narrow 3-2 loss to the Shooting Stars in a match played behind closed doors.

Lucky Emmanuel, Opeyemi Olufemi and Moses Omoduemuke scored for Oluyole Warriors, while Chijioke Akuneto scored twice for Rivers United.

Although Rivers United had nothing to lose, they still gave the Shooting Stars a hard time during the 90 minutes of play.

Eguma, one of the NPFL's longest-serving coaches, had some sweet moments after the game as fans hailed him with words like 'Sabi's longest-serving coach and manager' .

After the game, Eguma spoke to PREMIUM TIMES in an exclusive interview on issues related to Nigeria's representation in the CAF Champions League next season.

Eguma spoke about the departure of Ishaq Kayode and how they plan to replace him. He also revealed the level of progression of NPFL top scorer Chijioke Akuneto and the availability of Sikiru Olatunbosun and Theophilus Afelokhai for the team ahead of their continental assignment.

Recall that Kayode, who has scored 14 goals this season, is set to join a club in Europe after his breakthrough performance in the first leg of the NPFL season.

Eguma said it was an honor for him as a coach to help develop Kayode.

“The team created Kayode, so we can also create other Kayode for the continent next season,” Eguma reiterated. "It's our duty as coaches to secure and get the talent to bring them into the team. Kayode is leaving. It's a good thing and I'm grateful as a coach for to have been able to develop it to a level that other clubs can appreciate.

“He also creates space for other talented young players to cover. I think that is not a problem for us. We will always look for those who can fit into the spaces he will create and we'll see how we can build them."

On NPFL top scorer Chijioke Akuneto, Eguma said his eye for goals has helped the midfielder succeed this season. Akuneto has scored 17 goals so far this season to stay ahead of Abdulazeez Yusuf and Victor Mbaoma who have 16 goals each.

"Chijioke Akuneto, before he joined the team, I saw in him the talent of a player who has his eyes on the goals. I kept cheering him on. Even when Kayode was scoring I believed in him he could still score goals Kayode does it you can do it You got what it takes to do it He was working until he finally scored the goals . And scoring goals was part of that."

As for the future of Sikiru Olatunbosun and ageless goalkeeper Theophilus Afelokhai, Eguma revealed that Rivers United binds the availability of these players to their contracts.

"They have a contract with the team now and I don't know the terms of that contract. If the contract continues or is renewed, I think they will continue with the team or it depends on what their talk is about. contract and the player's ambition.

Some of them want to play in Europe. If their contract is over, you can't stop them. But if their contract is still in progress, you will have them next season."

He pointed out that the season had been a success for them.

"Well, you can rate us yourself. This year is a successful season because we did so well. We won the league before the end of the season, scoring a lot of goals. The advantage that we have in terms of goals is more than any other team."

Rivers United will represent Nigeria in the CAF Champions League next season and Eguma assured that Rivers United will break the spell that the NPFL champions have always faced on the continent.

"Yes, we've been there in the past. We know what it takes. We've also tasted crushing in the past, so it's up to us now to work hard to make sure the experience we had in the past will play an important role for us to overcome all obstacles.

"Now that the league is ending, there will be more time before the start of the continental mission, so we will go to the drawing board to work towards our success," Eguma concluded.

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