Still basking in the euphoria of the 2-0 drubbing of high-flying Enugu Rangers Int’l last Sunday at the Aper Aku Stadium, Lobi Stars have moved with the victorious spirit into city of Port-Harcourt to challenge table toppers Rivers United for the maximum points in the re-arranged Match Day 21 of the 2021/2022 NPFL season on Thursday April 7, 2022 at the Adokie Amesiamaka Stadium.
Lobi Stars Match-day 21 opponents, Rivers United who have been at the summit of the table for several weeks are inarguably in imperious form and can easily send shivers down the spines of their opponents.
With 43 points from 20 matches, the ‘Pride of Rivers’ have enjoyed an unbeaten run since Match Day 12 after their only defeat of the season in the current season which came against Plateau United in Jos.
However, even as Lobi Stars may be seen to be coming into the contest with a not too impressive record of a lowly 22 points from 20 games, leaving them one step below the red line after the Match Day 21 games that took place on Wednesday, April 6, they can be spurred on by the convincing 2-0 victory over Enugu Rangers last Sunday.
With former international, Dominic Iorfa, back in the saddle as the Vice-chairman/CEO, a new wave of optimism is oozing in the camp of Lobi Stars so the ‘Ortom boys’ can’t be dismissed with a wave of the hand even if the odds are heavily against them.
Moreover, on all time Head-to-Head, Lobi Stars are standing taller than their opponents, having engaged Rivers United 23 times with 12 wins and 3 draws, leaving the garden city boys with only 8 wins.
Out of the 23 games, Lobi Stars scored 27 times averaging 1.7 goals against Rivers United who managed to score 22 times, with an average of 0.96 goal per game, a deficit of 5 in goals scored and 4 in number of matches won.
But on current form, Rivers United have performed better than Lobi Stars as they have not lost any game in their last 5 outings, winning 3 with 2 draws while their Match Day 21 opponents just woke up from slumber to record their first win over Enugu Rangers in five matches .
The Technical Adviser of Lobi Stars, Baba Ganaru, while speaking to the Club’s Media Crew, expressed confidence that something positive will come out of the potentially explosive clash with Rivers United.
“Every match is a different game and has a different approach. I am aware of the set objectives of the club. We are in a precarious position and to move out, we will have to be picking home and away points.
“It is not going to be easy but if my boys will maintain the fighting spirit they showed against Rangers last Sunday, we won’t return to Makurdi empty handed,” said the former El-Kanemi Warriors technical adviser.
A combination of motivation and zeal in the camp of Lobi Stars is at play and can make a whole difference against Rivers United in this encounter, all things being equal.
