Rivers United coach Stanley Eguma says the Pride of Rivers are still focused on winning the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) title this season despite a disappointing 1-1 draw against struggling Wikki Tourists at home on Monday.

Stephen Gopey scored against his former club after just 4 minutes to put the Bauchi Elephants ahead, with substitute Malachy Ohawume leveling scores in the final minute of additional time to rescue a point for Rivers United at the Adokiye Amiesimaka stadium in Port Harcourt.

It is only the second time United have dropped points at home this season, after drawing 0-0 with Abia Warriors a week earlier.

With the draw, the big-spending Port Harcourt side are placed 4th on the NPFL standings, with 41 points from 24 matches, 4 points behind leaders Akwa United (45pts).

However, Eguma is adamant they will continue their title chase, hoping to pick the dropped points away from home in their subsequent matches.

“We have great plans. We are still focused,” he said. “This draw is not going to affect us, it is not going to demoralize the team.

“We’ll still be working very hard because we can pick points away. We can recover these points away from home.

“So, we are very, very positive that we can still pick points (away) and continue with the chase – the title chase.”

Up next for Rivers United is a Match Day 25 fixture in Owerri against neighbours Heartland on Sunday, and Eguma is looking forward to a tough encounter against the Naze Millionaires.

“It’s a local derby, anything can happen,” he stated. “We are preparing to go and play Heartland, believing that, yes, we can pick points from Owerri if we put up a good effort, make good fight.

“So, we are not going to allow today’s (Monday’s) result to affect our morale. I think we have to psyche ourselves up, and then ensure that we are in a better mood to play because it’s always a derby (against Heartland) and you expect a very tough game.”