By Our Football Correspondent in Port Harcourt
FINIDI GEORGE’S Rivers United produced a clinical second-half display to dismantle Abia Warriors 3-0, ensuring the NPFL title race goes down to the wire.
After a cagey first forty-five minutes that left the Port Harcourt faithful biting their nails, the “Pride of Rivers” found their rhythm to net three times in a dominant post-interval showing. The result keeps the pressure firmly on league leaders Rangers, who maintained their slim advantage with a win elsewhere.
The tension at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium was palpable during a frustrated first half, but it took just five minutes of the second period for the deadlock to be broken. Wasiu Falolu proved to be the man for the big occasion, latching onto a loose ball in the 50th minute to fire the hosts into a deserved lead.
Sealing the Deal
Abia Warriors, who had arrived with continental ambitions of their own, looked shell-shocked. Any hopes of a comeback were ruthlessly extinguished in the final quarter of the match.
Timothy Zachariah doubled the advantage with a composed finish, before Bello Babatunde added the gloss to the scoreline, leaving the Warriors’ defense chasing shadows.
”We were frustrated in the first half, but the boys showed immense character to stick to the plan,” a beaming Finidi George remarked after the final whistle.
With only a handful of games remaining in the 2026 season, Rivers United remain the primary challengers to Rangers’ throne. This 3-0 demolition acts as a massive statement of intent, proving that while the leaders may be in the driving seat, United are firmly in their rearview mirror.
