By Wale Mustapha
Rivers United have called on their fans to turn out in large numbers as they host Nasarawa United in a crucial final-day clash of the 2024/2025 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season.
The Pride of Rivers will face the Solid Miners in Port Harcourt on Sunday for their Matchday 38 encounter, with a place in next season’s CAF Champions League still at stake.
Although the league title has already been secured by Remo Stars, Rivers United — led by head coach George Finidi — must defeat Nasarawa United to guarantee a second-place finish and continental qualification.
A slip-up could see them overtaken by third-placed Abia Warriors, who are also in contention with a final-day fixture of their own.
In a statement posted on the club’s official Facebook page, Rivers United emphasized the importance of fan support.
“This is a huge milestone for our club, and we’re proud of everyone who’s contributed,” the statement read.
“While we may have missed out on the league title, our focus now shifts to sealing a CAF Champions League spot on Matchday 38.”
“Let’s come together as a team and push for a win against Nasarawa United. We’re close, and with our collective effort, we can make it happen!”
The club hopes a charged home atmosphere at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium will inspire the players to finish the season on a high.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
