By Emex Henshaw
Rovers Football Club of Calabar continues their resurgence in the second tier of Nigerian football as they aim to qualify for the Nigeria Premier Football League.
The Calabar-based side extended their unbeaten run to three games by defeating table-toppers and Conference A runaway leaders, Madiba FC, with a single goal at the U.J Esuene Stadium on Sunday.
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The goal came in the 85th minute from an own goal, as Captain Asuquo Inyang’s freekick was inadvertently headed into the net by an Oshodi Boys defender.
Despite the victory, Rovers struggled to apply enough pressure on the league leaders, who displayed their dominance away from home.
After the game, Rovers’ Head Coach, Caleb Esu, expressed his disappointment with his team’s performance, vowing to make further improvements. He stated, “The performances were above average. I had to lose my voice because they were not able to meet my expectations.”
When questioned about the team’s lack of ability to create chances, Esu emphasized the need for patience, noting that he is working on tactical aspects with the players to enhance their performance.
Esu also stressed the importance of patience despite the team’s recent upturn in form, acknowledging that there is still much room for improvement before they can secure promotion.
Rovers will head into the business end of the league bolstered by the return of in-form player Utibe Archibong, who has spearheaded their resurgence.
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“He’s a very good player who played under me at Dakaada and knows how I operate. His addition is a major boost,” Esu said.
Currently, Rovers sit seventh on the table, four points behind Beyond Limits, who occupy the second spot with 25 points, and ten points adrift of league leaders, Madiba FC.
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