Rivers United returned to the top of the Nigeria Premier Football League yesterday after a goalless draw with Barau FC in Port Harcourt.
Heavy rain had stopped the Week 9 fixture after 75 minutes on Sunday. The teams returned the following morning for the remaining 15 minutes but neither could break the deadlock. The point took Rivers to 17 from nine matches with four wins and five draws. Finidi George’s side remain unbeaten and have conceded only twice in the league.
Rivers United’s Assistant coach Yemi Olanrewaju felt the hosts had let a victory slip away before the weather intervened. ‘We had two glaring chances we could have converted in the first half before they resorted to time-wasting because they didn’t come here to play’ he said.
Olanrewaju nevertheless backed the team to respond. ‘We will bounce back. It’s a marathon; there is no big deal. We’ve also gone out to pick points elsewhere. We will be back to winning ways.’
The result leaves Rangers International also on 17 points having played one fewer league match because of their continental commitments. But the Flying Antelopes are second on goals difference despite being on the same points with Rivers United.
Barau however moved to 14 points and to the fifth spot after the valuable away result in Port Harcourt.