Eguma drops Rotimi, unleashes Oshoke on Tornadoes

Rivers United technical manager, Stanley Eguma has dropped Sunday Rotimi for Sunday’s Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) game against Niger Tornadoes at the Confluence Stadium, Lokoja.

Rotimi who has played in every minute of United’s previous five league games this term has been relegated to the bench with Godwin Anyalogu starting in his place.

Festus Austin, Olalekan Gabriel, Ayobami Asekunowo and Chigozie Ihunda keep their places in the starting XI from last weekend’s 1-0 win over Nasarawa United in Port Harcourt.

Oshoke “Hazard” makes his first start of the season in a strong-looking midfield alongside Yusuf Jaiyeola, Christian Weli and Obomate Frederick.

Ivoirian marksman, Guy Kuemian Venance is only good enough for a start from the bench after failing to recover from an unspecified illness.

Wilson Andoh is the major beneficiary of Kuemian’s indisposition as the Ghanaian makes his second-successive start for the Port Harcourt side alongside former Enyimba striker, Chukwunonso Okonkwo in a two-man attack.

Explaining the rationale behind his decisions, Eguma said relegating Rotimi to the bench was a “tactical decision”.

“It is true that Rotimi has played in all our matches this season but I had to make a tactical decision.

“Anyalogu is a strong and very experienced goal keeper who has been very impressive in training recently.

“(Wilson) Andon was not supposed to start (on Sunday) but Guy (Kuemian) is sick and I don’t think he has recovered well enough to play all 90 minutes.

“As for ‘Hazard’ (Oshoke), everyone knows what he’s capable of doing and I expect him to prove his mettle against Tornadoes.

“I believe I have selected the best players available and hopefully, we will get our first points on the road.

“We have experience on our side and the calibre of players we have are the type that are used to the terrain in the NPFL.

“It’s going to be an interesting game but we are prepared and hopefully, we have corrected the mistakes we have made in our previous away matches.

“We will try not to drop any points (on Sunday),” he told Rivers United Media.

Rivers United start list vs Niger Tornadoes

Godwin Anyalogu (25)

Austin Festus (19)

Olalekan Gabriel (12)

Ihunda Chigozie (2)

Ayobami Asekunowo (6)

 Yusuf Jaiyeola (21)

Christian Weli (27)

Obomate Frederick (20)

Oshoke “Hazard” Matthew (11)

 Chukwunonso Okonkwo (14)

Wilson Andoh (18)

Substitutes

Guy Kuemian Venance (9)

Odinga Odinga (34)

Rotimi Sunday (22)

Douhadji Joseph (5)

Felix Benjamin (24)

Daniel Victor (32)

Daniel Israel (16)