Rivers United goalkeeper Osagie Onisodumeya has admitted that dropped points at home are damaging the club’s push for the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) crown, while also defending head coach Finidi George amid growing criticism from supporters.
Rivers United were held to a 1–1 draw in their Round 27 clash at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium on Sunday, a result that leaves them just two points behind the league leaders, Ikorodu City, and four games in hand.
Osagie Onisodumeya rues Rivers United home struggles in NPFL race
A costly error inside the hosts’ 18-yard box handed the visitors the lead in the 28th minute. Abiodun Joseph nodded home after Osagie rushed off his line in an attempt to catch the ball.
The Pride of Rivers responded before the break. Okon Aniekeme restored parity three minutes before halftime, finishing off after the team had missed several earlier chances.
Speaking after the match, Osagie did not hide his disappointment with the outcome.
“I won’t say it’s a bad result, but we aspire to win the league. This is not the kind of result we need in our home. We need a positive result, like winning, to get higher in the log.
We are about three points behind the leaders. Winning at home will give us the edge to be at the top. But if we keep losing at home, it will be difficult for us. So it’s a bad result for us.”
Despite the draw, the shot-stopper insisted Rivers United put in a strong display and created enough chances to secure all three points.
“I won’t say. Fine, we drew the match, so I give kudos to the players. We had a good fight. We thought the result would come, but unfortunately it did not come. I won’t say we didn’t play well.
We played very, very well. The seal was there to win, but we missed a couple of chances. But it’s a game of football. You win, you lose, you draw.”
He pointed to poor finishing as the key reason the team failed to capitalise on their dominance.
“We missed a lot of chances. If we don’t convert goals, we can’t get goals. That’s how football is designed. That’s what cost us this game at home.”
Early in the second half, Stephen Manyo produced a vital goal-line clearance to prevent the visitors from regaining the lead.
However, both teams struggled to convert their opportunities thereafter as the contest ended in a stalemate.
Rivers United goalkeeper backs Finidi amid CAF Champions League debate
The recent draws against Kwara United in Ilorin and Enyimba have raised concerns about whether Rivers United are still feeling the effects of their CAF Champions League campaign.
Osagie acknowledged that balancing continental football with domestic action has affected the team’s rhythm.
“I won’t lie. It’s not that we are suffering from the Continental game. When you play in the Continental, if you leave your league… The Continental is a different ball game entirely.
So when you leave your league for about three to four games, if you are coming back to your league, it takes you time to adapt back to your league. That’s what is happening; that’s what you are seeing here.
Because when you are playing in the league, the league is a momentum. When you have momentum, the more you are playing games, it gives you momentum that this is what we are going to do. This is what we are going to face in the league.
But when you play in the Continental, it’s different from playing in the league.”
With Finidi facing backlash from sections of the fanbase, Osagie was firm in his support for the coach and urged patience as the team gains experience at the highest level in Africa.
“There is one thing I always tell people: continental games – this is a higher level of football in Africa.
This is the first time Rivers United is playing in the Champions League. This is the first time these players in general are playing in the Champions League. So it’s an experience.
If you see the way other people play, the other teams play, the teams like the Pyramids, the way they play, you know that these people have been in the Champions League for a very long time. You understand. So we are just coming up.
It’s an experience. For me, it’s a big experience. The kind of goals that we conceded, the goal we scored.
So all these kinds of things. I don’t think our coach is a bad coach. He’s a very good coach; we appreciate him a lot.
But people don’t know. They only see what is happening on the pitch, but they don’t know what is happening behind the scenes.”
As the NPFL title race tightens, Rivers United know that improving their home form could prove decisive in the weeks ahead, and their next test will be against Barau FC on Wednesday.