Rivers United’ struggles in front of goal continued at the ValueJet Cup 2026 as they were held to a goalless draw by Sporting Lagos on Matchday 3.
The Pride of Rivers created the better chances at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne but could not find a way past a resolute Sporting Lagos defence, leaving Finidi George’s side with another frustrating result.
The latest stalemate means the Pride of Rivers have now drawn all three of their matches in the competition.
They opened their campaign with a 1-1 draw against Abia Warriors before producing the same scoreline against Smart City.
This time, however, the goals disappeared completely.
Despite creating opportunities against the Noisy Lagosians, the Port Harcourt side failed to turn their pressure into a breakthrough as the match ended 0-0.
That result leaves the Garden City side with just three points from three matches, having scored two goals and conceded two.
For a side preparing for the new season in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), the lack of cutting edge will be one of the biggest areas for Finidi and his coaching staff to address.
While Rivers United continue to search for their first victory in the tournament, Sporting Lagos have strengthened their position at the top of the table.
The Lagos-based side now have seven points, while Rangers International and Remo Stars sit on six points each.
With the semifinal race heating up, every point could prove crucial.
For Rivers United, the challenge is even clearer. They have shown enough defensively to remain difficult to beat, but their inability to convert chances is keeping them from turning promising performances into victories.
Three matches have produced three draws.