Rivers United and MFM FC go toe-to-toe at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Port Harcourt in a blockbuster clash today.
MFM FC come into Sunday’s game on the back of a 2-0 win over Nasarawa United in midweek.
Fidelis Ilechukwu’s charges have also not conceded in the NPFL since May 8 when they lost 0-1 to Lobi Stars at the Aper Aku Stadium, Makurdi.
The MFM trainer is however full of respect for a high-flying Rivers United side that have kept the most clean sheets (11)in the league this term, ahead of the crunch fixture.
Ilechukwu says Rivers United is a ‘good team’ that can cause damage to his youthful side.
“Rivers United have a good team,” he remarked.
“They are more experienced than us and we will learn from them.
“Rivers United are like our masters (in this context) and we are the learners.
“We are new in the league and we are still learning.
“Our fans should continue to believe in us because our team is a lot stronger than it was in the first round,” Ilechukwu said.
MFM FC won the reverse fixture 2-1 at the Agege Stadium on February 24 with Ifeanyi Ifeanyi and Sikiru Olatunbosun scoring for Lagos-based club inside the opening 24 minutes while Obomate Frederick netted the consolation for the ‘Pride of Rivers’.
Rivers United coach Stanley Eguma is still smarting from a loss to MFM in the first round and knows only a big performance on Sunday will guarantee the win.
“It is a big game. They (MFM FC) have been doing very well and we have to work extra hard to pick up the three points against them,” he said.
“They are a very strong team and we respect them.”
Olatunbosun is the main man for MFM FC. He netted both goals in the win over Nasarawa United four days ago and will fancy his chances of ‘doing the double’ against the Rivers United goalkeeper Sunday Rotimi.
He netted the winner as MFM prevailed 2-1 over United in the reverse fixture, with Rotimi in goal, in Agege four months ago.
Folarin Abayomi has been outstanding in goal for MFM in recent matches and looks set to get the nod to start against United on Sunday.
Other important personnel the home side will do well to pay attention to include Stephen Odey, Isah Akor and Ifeanyi who also scored in the reverse fixture against Rivers United.
United have been boosted by the arrival of Onyekachi Okafor who arrived from Warri Wolves and put in a virtuoso display against champions, Enyimba in Umuahia on Thursday.
Powerful striker Chinonso Okonkwo missed out on the fixture against Enyimba but will likely return for Sunday’s game against MFM FC.
The stage is set as two sides with aesthetic football philosophies prepare to regale fans of the NPFL with a potentially explosive game of football, not soon to be forgotten.