Team News : Inah To Earn United Debut Versus Shooting Stars

Former Sharks FC defender, Ofem Inah will earn his first Rivers United appearance, barring any late developments, on Saturday against Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) on match day seven of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

3SC and United and go toe to toe in the first live offering of match day seven at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba in Ibadan with Inah the surprise name on the team sheet of the visitors.

The United manager, Stanley Eguma has revealed that Inah will play his first game for the club on Saturday in an expansively attacking line up.

Sunday Rotimi returns in goal for the Port Harcourt club ahead of Godwin Anyalogu who has been omitted entirely from the match day squad after he conceded three times in United’s last game against Niger Tornadoes at the Confluence Stadium, Lokoja.

Inah will start at right back ahead of the suspended Ayobami Asekunowo who bagged a three match suspension after picking up a late red card in the defeat away to Tornadoes.

Chigozie Ihunda will man the right back position while Festus Austin and Olalekan Gabriel will commence proceedings as the two centre halves.

Christian Weli and Yusuf Jaiyeola start as the anchors/holding midfielders protecting the back four with Obomate Frederick and Ebitimi Agogo also starting from the wide positions in midfield.

Eguma again favours two strikers from the get go with Chukwunonso Okonkwo and Guy Kuemian given the nod.

Explaining the rationale behind his decisions, Eguma said he was confident Inah would hit the ground running despite making only his first appearance of the season.

“Inah was supposed to start the game against Tornadoes in Lokoja but he was not fully fit back then.

“I watched him all of this week in training and I am sure he is now ready.

 “He is an extremely experienced player who will help us a lot today.

 “The team I picked is a very attacking one and I am sure we will win today,” he told Rivers United Media.

United are the highest scoring side away from home in the NPFL this season.

They have also scored in all league games this season, a feat only matched by Akwa United in the 20-team competition.

Saturday’s game kicks off at 4pm and it is live on SuperSport9.

Rivers United Starting XI : Sunday Rotimi (22), Chigozie Ihunda (2),Gabriel Olalekan (12),Festus Agada (19),Ofem Inah (33),Yusuf Jaiyeola (21),Obomate Frederick (20), Christian Weli (27), Ebitimi Agogo (15), Chukwunonso Okonkwo (34), Guy Kuemian Venance (9)

Substitutes : Henry Ayodele (23), Odinga Odinga(34), Joseph Douhadji (5), Felix Benjamin (24),Bernad Ovoke (7),Wilson Andoh (18),Daniel Israel (16)

Igho Kingsley