NPFL title race will go down to last day – Finidi
May 6, 2026 2:16 am
File: Finidi George
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Rivers United coach Finidi George believes the 2025/26 Nigeria Premier Football League title race will go down to the wire, but insists his team must win their last away game against Wikki Tourists to keep their hopes alive, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Having led for most of the season with a gap of about seven points, Rivers United now find themselves trailing Enugu Rangers at the top by one point with two matches to go.
Rangers moved to the summit after a comfortable 2–0 win over Bayelsa United in Yenagoa, despite Rivers United’s 3–0 victory over Abia Warriors.
The Flying Antelopes will hope to consolidate their lead when they host Bendel Insurance this weekend, while Rivers United will aim to stay in the race with a win away to Wikki Tourists.
“There are two games to go and we all started the league together. We can’t pity anyone, but we have to see how we recover properly ahead of our next fixture against Wikki Tourists,” Finidi said after Sunday’s match.
“Our away form in the first round was good, and we have to bring our A game again against Wikki Tourists. We will prepare properly because a lot is at stake.”
If Rivers United avoid defeat in the penultimate game, the title race will go down to the final day, when Rangers visit Ikorodu City in Lagos while Rivers United host Katsina United.
“That decider will, I think, be on the last day. Ikorodu will be playing Rangers and we will be playing Katsina. Everything is possible till the last day,” Finidi added.
Finidi, who took charge of Rivers United in search of his first league title with the Port Harcourt side, previously led Enyimba to their ninth title in 2023, dethroning Rivers United, who won their first title in 2022.
Abiodun, who reports Sports for PUNCH, covers different tiers of the Nigerian football league, the national teams, as well as cricket, in the last six years
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