OFFICIAL: Rivers United terminate Stanley Eguma’s contract

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) side, Rivers United have officially terminated the contract of coach Stanley Eguma as the team’s Technical Adviser after a career with the team which spanned over a decade from the days of Dolphins FC.

There has been rumours of his sack previous months ago on various online mediums but the club didn’t make any official statement until Saturday, June 1, 2024.

The Port Harcourt team confirmed the termination of Eguma’s contract on their social media pages to announce the new development and the appointment of an interim head coach.

“The Management of Rivers United FC officially announces the termination of Coach Stanley Eguma’s appointment as Technical Manager of the Club,” the club posted on their Facebook page.

“Subsequently, Coach Evans Ogenyi , the club’s Chief Coach, has been appointed in an acting capacity as the head coach of the Club until the end of 2023/2024 Nigeria Premier Football League Season.

“The decision is in pursuit of a new direction aimed at achieving the objectives and goals of the club.

“However, we convey our gratitude to Coach Eguma for his services to the club and wish him the very best in his future endeavours.” The post concluded.

Eguma took charge of the team as Dolphins FC in 2012 before the merger with Sharks FC to become Rives United in 2016 serving as the longest serving coach in the top flight before the termination of his contract.

During that time frame in charge of the Pride of Rivers, he has won the league title in 2022 and finished runner up in 2020 and 2016 which qualified the team for continental football.

Last season, they finished as the best Nigerian team on the continent under Eguma with a quarter final finish at the CAF Confederation Cup, the same feat replicated at the end of the 2023/2024 season which maintained Nigeria’s four continental slots; two in the CAF Champions League and two in the CAF Confederation Cup.