2024/2025 NPFL Match Day 2: Rivers in eye of storm against Heartland FC

Posted : 14 September 2024

It’s going to be a clash of former Super Eagles players on the bench as Rivers United hosts Heartland in the Nigeria Football League (NPFL) Matchday 2.

The attention will be on Finidi George and Emmanuel Amuneke as they face off in the dugouts of their respective clubs, Rivers United and Heartland FC.

Both coaches belong to the class of '94, the squad that took Nigeria's football scene by storm by winning the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 1994 and becoming the first Nigerian team to qualify for the World Cup (USA 94).

Four months ago, Finidi George was appointed to the Super Eagles job over Amuneke, contrary to popular opinion when both were jostling for the position.

The match, scheduled to take place at the Adokie Amasiemaka Stadium at 3 p.m., will kick off the weekend games for the 2024/2025 NPFL Matchday 2.

Rivers United secured a valuable point on the road against Bendel Insurance despite finishing the game in a draw, while Amuneke, a former African Footballer of the Year, had a poor start to the season opener, as Heartland suffered a 3-1 defeat to Enyimba.

This sets up a fierce battle for the three points at stake, as both teams are looking for a response after their Matchday 1 performances, amid the subtle pride and ego between the two coaches and their supporters.

Meanwhile, Finidi George has dispelled any notion of rivalry between him and Amuneke and ruled out any extra pressure to prove a point.

Finidi said, “He is a colleague; he is a friend of mine, and there is nothing special about us being on the bench. We will just do our jobs. No extra pressure on my part, and I hope it will be the same on his part too.”

However, the former Super Eagles coach stated that his team will be fully focused on securing the three points, regardless.

“They lost at home, so I think they will come here like wounded lions, but we, being at home, will be focused on getting the maximum three points. It’s going to be a difficult game, but at the end of the day, we want to win, and they will also want to get something out of it,” Finidi assessed.

Head to Head:

Since 2022, Rivers United and Heartland FC have competed in 5 games, with Rivers United winning 2 and 2 matches ending in a draw.

Rivers United - Heartland (17.03.2024) 1:0
Heartland - Rivers United (01.11.2023) 1:1
Heartland - Rivers United (14.05.2022) 2:0
Rivers United - Heartland (24.01.2022) 3:1
Rivers United - Heartland (23.01.2022) 0:0

2024/2025 NPFL Match Day 2: Rivers in eye of storm against Heartland FC

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