Still basking in the euphoria of the 3-2 demolition of Plateau United last Sunday 14th March, 2021, Lobi Stars will Sunday 21st March, 2021 lie in wait against another giant Rivers United in an NPFL Match Day 17 cracker with a newly appointed executive vice chairman Mr Emmanuel Tama.

Lobi Stars has been undergoing management surgery in the past two weeks, it first started when the Government of Benue State directed the erstwhile chairman Mr Mike Idoko to resign and hand over to the secretary Mr Emmanuel Terzungwe Chugh, and finally a replacement in person of Emmanuel Tama  was announced Thursday 18th March, 2021.

The transition is said to be smooth as Mr Chugh handed over the team in good condition with the maximum points from his only game played while he held sway. 

The game against Rivers is a great game that needs to be handled with utmost caution if Lobi Stars are to keep their continental ambition alive. 

Though the league is tight but at same time very open. Lobi Stars have so far played 15 games with 22 points with an outstanding game, occupying 10 position on the log, the lowly  position separates the pride of Benue with the league leaders with only 5 points which leaves the summit of the table within the reach of any of the first 10 clubs.

The outcome of Sunday's game against Rivers United will leave a positive signal for Lobi Stars if there is a repeat performance like that which was displayed against Plateau United.

Comparatively, Lobi Stars dwarfed Rivers United having won 11 times and drew 2 out of the 20 head to head games in the NPFL. Though the current run of Rivers United in the 2020/2021 season ascribe current superiority over Lobi Stars, having ganered 26 points from 15 games with 1 outstanding, occupying 6th position with only 1 point separating them with the league leaders.

The latest form arising from the last 6 games of the two clubs shows that, Lobi Stars achieved 9 points from 6 games while Rivers United achieved 8 points in the corresponding number of games. A sign that Lobi Stars are having some improved moments.

The last 5 head to head still favors Lobi as 

they won 3, drew 1 and lost only one out of the 5 games against Rivers United as  shown below:

15 jan 2020

Rivers United FC 2-1 Lobi Stars

16 may 2019

Rivers United FC 1-1 Lobi Stars

20 mar 2019

Lobi Stars 2-1 Rivers United FC

25 mar 2018

Lobi Stars 3-2 Rivers United FC

16 jun 2017

Lobi Stars 1-0 Rivers United FC

In the final analysis, Lobi will be playing the game of their lives against Rivers United. All things been equal, Lobi Stars is expected to give the new vice Chairman a welcome victory as an incentive to his motivating introductory steps towards enhanced performance.