Rivers United technical manager Stanley Eguma has blamed fatigue for his side’s first defeat in the Nigeria Professional Football League this season.
United lost 0-1 to Wikki Tourists on Wednesday with Chinedu Udeagha netting the winner for the Bauchi club at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium.
Eguma’s charges came into the game on the back three consecutive victories over Rangers International, Abia Warriors and Kwara United.
However, the United contingent embarked on a two day road trip to Bauchi from Port Harcourt (the geographical distance between Port Harcourt and Bauchi is 691 km {429 miles, 373 nautical miles}) just hours after completing the 3-0 win over Kwara United at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium and Eguma has fingered that as the main reason for the reverse.
“It was a very hectic trip and it was clear my boys were fatigued during the game,” Eguma told SPNAfricaNews after the game. “We did not play with our usual sharpness and failed to score for the first time this season.
“We had opportunities in both halves but we didn’t convert and and that’s football for you.
“Having said that, we must now correct the mistakes we noticed in the game and move on from here.”
United will now turn their attentions to Sunday’s league game versus Heartland in Port Harcourt and Eguma says amassing maximum points from that contest is top priority.
“We are still top of the table and that’s important,” he added. “Heartland are a good side. They beat Enyimba 2-0 in their last game so we know we will be facing a very tough game.
“However, we know we will very likely remain at the top of the table if we win on Sunday and that will be the objective.
