By Emeka Dennar
Rivers United captain Stephen Manyo has declared with absolute certainty that the Pride of Rivers will lift the 2026/2027 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) title, insisting the squad has put last season’s painful heartbreak behind them.
The Port Harcourt outfit led the table for much of last term before being dramatically pipped on the final day of the season. Despite a convincing 3–0 home victory over Katsina United on the closing day, Rivers United needed title rivals Rangers to drop points against Ikorodu City in Lagos. Instead, the Flying Antelopes secured a 2–1 away victory, snatching the championship by a single point—finishing on 68 points to Rivers United’s 67.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Exceed Media, the former Enyimba defender acknowledged the bitter disappointment of back-to-back runner-up finishes, but insisted the team’s new recruitment drive has given them the depth needed to go all the way this time.
“I felt disappointed that we lost the title last season, but in life generally, you have to fail to know where to get it right,” Manyo said. “We have finished second twice now. For me, that’s a failure, and I don’t think we want to finish as runners-up again. I’ve overcome that experience because you have to let go of the past and focus on the future.”
Manyo pointed to improved squad depth as the primary reason for his optimism as Finidi George’s side prepares for the new campaign.
“I am 100 per cent confident that, with the quality I’m seeing here, we’ll claim the title this season,” the home-based Super Eagles star declared. “Though we are only in Week 4 of our pre-season preparations, I’ve seen the quality and depth of the players we have signed. Last season, if you took out key players, the team struggled. This season, whoever comes in is ready to give 101 per cent.”
Rivers United, who last won the NPFL crown in 2022, will be looking to erase last season’s costly errors when the 2026/2027 NPFL season kicks off, tentatively scheduled for the weekend of August 28–30.
