<
>

Rivers-Shooting clash lights up Port Harcourt

KweséESPN

Two struggling teams in the Nigeria Professional Football League, Rivers United and Shooting Stars, meet on Saturday in a matchday 26 fixture.

The match at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium, Port Harcourt, will be of keen interest to league observers and fans of both clubs.

Hosts Rivers United -- in 16th place and parading the worst attack in the league having netted a miserly 16 goals -- welcome a struggling Shooting Stars side that are two spots below in 18th, apparently feeling the discomfort of the dreaded relegation zone.

Despite the mid-season signings of Abu Azeez and Wasiu Jimoh, Stars' fortunes have barely improved. Youngster Sunday Faleye appears to have lost a bit of steam in the second round, often finding himself as a substitute.

United coach Stanley Eguma is having a nightmare campaign in comparison to his relatively successful record in the league over the years. Just three days after a CAF Confederation Cup home game against KCCA of Uganda, he has to rotate his squad to achieve maximum points.

A win for United will momentarily dislodge Enugu Rangers from 13th place, pending the conclusion of the round's matches on Wednesday.

Nzube Anaezemba has found game-time difficult to come by since the mid-season arrival of Ayo Saka at the Pride of Rivers.

Considering the midweek continental game, Eguma might decide to rest either Emeka Atuloma or Saka to give Anaezemba a spot in the middle of the park.