By Tilda Acorlor.
Ghanaian duo who play for Rivers United FC, Desmond Agbekpornu, and Paul Acquah, have made history by lifting the club’s first trophy in the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL).
The Port Harcourt-based NPFL side claimed their maiden league title with 77 points after 38 matches. They are 10 points above second-place Plateau United in a 20-team league.
Desmond Agbekpornu, a homeboy from the Volta region played for Division Two League side, Agbozume Weavers from 2011 to 2012 before joining Ashanti Gold in the Ghana Premier League (GPL) from 2013 to 2016.
The midfielder had previously played in the NPFL for Heartland FC and Lobi Star before joining Rivers United FC.
Desmond joined Rivers United FC in the 2020/21 league season and helped them to finish second. He also played most matches for the team in the CAF Champions League last season before being ousted by Sudanese club, Al Hilal to compete in the CAF Confederations Cup.
The former Ashanti Gold SC player who featured 18 times for Rivers United FC this season is delighted to be part of the team’s diligence and success story.
“Winning the Nigeria League is a very good achievement for me personally because is not easy to win a league so if by God’s grace you are the champions of the season it means we worked so hard to achieve that and l am very very happy about that,” Desmond Agbekpornu said.
Desmond Agbekpornu is not the only Ghanaian with the team, Paul Acquah, a former Kintampo FC and Hearts of Oak attacking midfielder who left Hearts on a free transfer to Division One League Side, Star Madrid FC before joining Kenyan side Wazito FC in 2019 also plays for the team.
Since joining the club in 2020, Paul Acquah has been involved in 6 goals for the club, Although this season he has no goals to his credit he’s been an integral member of the team’s accomplishments.
Chijioke Akuneto’s 11th-minute lone goal against Gombe United was the cherry on top to conclude Rivers United’s 2021/22 season before a colorful coronation ceremony took place at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt, Rivers state.
Winning the league earns Rivers United FC a place in next season’s CAF Champions League.
This is the club’s first major honor since it was formed following a merger of Port Harcourt’s two top clubs Dolphins and Sharks in 2016.
Rivers United, known as “The Pride of Rivers” is owned by the oil-rich Rivers State Government, which has made them one of the best run clubs in Nigeria.