Injury Bug Hits Rivers United; Four Players To Miss Rangers Tie

No fewer than four first team players will miss Rivers United’s Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) clash with Enugu Rangers on Sunday.

Yaovi Douhadji, Guy Kuemian, Godbless Asamoah and Wilson Andoh will definitely miss out on the match day 14 encounter against the Flying Antelopes.

Togolese international defender, Douhadji is currently indisposed and has not trained since last week.

Rivers United doctor, Chukwuemeka Agi explained that a diagnosis is yet to be reached on Douhadji’s condition.

The big defender travelled to Jos for last Sunday’s 1-2 loss to Plateau United but indisposition forced technical manager, Stanley Eguma to draft in Ayobami Asekunowo as his replacement in the match day squad.

“Douhadji has not trained for almost a week and he will definitely miss out on the game against Rangers.

“His breathing is irregular and he’s complained of tiredness most of the time.

“He is currently at the Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital (BMSH) and will undergo further medical tests on Thursday,” Agi RIVERS UNITED MEDIA.

Kuemian recently aggravated the injury he suffered in United’s 1-2 reverse to Heartland in Owerri on April 10-a strain of the left quadriceps.

He has yet to resume training and will not play against Rangers on Sunday as a result.

Ghanaian marksman, Asamoah has struggled with hamstring issues all season and has been declared unfit to play on Sunday.

Andoh’s injury appears to be the most serious as he appeared to rupture knee ligaments in the defeat to Plateau United in Jos on Sunday.

He is set to be side lined for the long term and is surely out of contention for the game against Rangers on Sunday.

Eguma says the injury worries represent a big set-back in his plans to topple the league leaders at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium on Sunday.

“Right now, we have lost the services of all our first team strikers. Only (top scorer), Chukwunonso Okonso is available.

“It will not be easy to face the strongest team in the league with just one fit striker,” Eguma said.

Enugu Rangers are currently top of the NPFL standings with 24 points from 12 matches while Rivers United occupies seventh spot with 19 points from 13 matches.

Sammy Wejinya, Media Officer Rivers United FC