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Naija Super 8: Rivers United end with a win as Lobi beat Akwa United
By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
2021/2022 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) champions, Rivers United bowed out of the maiden Naija Super 8 after a 1-0 win over Yobe Desert Stars at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos, on Wednesday.
Kazie Enyinnaya 56th minute goal separated both sides after 90 minutes but the result wasn’t enough for the Pride of Rivers to make it to the semi final.
Earlier on, Joseph Atule’s first-half brace helped Lobi Stars to a 2-0 win over Akwa United in the last group B match.
Coach Fatai Osho made six changes to the side that defeated Rivers United in their last game.
Godgift Elkanah, Etim Mathew, Ubong Essien, Meshack Dennis, Rilwan Sadiq and Wisdom Fernando all made their first start at the tournament, while Wisdom Ndon, Abbey Benson, David Philip, Cyril Olisema and Uche Collins maintained their places in the starting eleven.
Atule scored two quick goals in the space of seven first-half minutes to open his goal account in the tournament.
The striker guided a long cross from the right beyond Godgift Elkanah in the 15th minute before completing his brace with a composed finish in the 22nd minute to condemn the Promise Keepers to their only defeat in three group games.
The victory saw Lobi Stars finish top of the group with seven points from three games while Akwa United who made it to the semi final on Monday after their 1-0 win over Rivers United finished as runner-up with six points from the same number of matches.
Akwa United will know their semi final opponent on Thursday after the last group A game between Sporting Lagos and Katsina United.
This is the maiden edition of the Naija Super 8 with six team making it to the group stage alongside two wildcards, Sporting Lagos and Akwa United.