Hat-trick hero Nwagua in confident mood ahead Confed Cup clash
Rivers United striker and new Nigeria Premier Football League hat-trick hero, Nyima Nwagua, has turned his attention to the CAF Confederation Cup after powering the Pride of Rivers to a 3-2 win over Doma United on match-day 20 of the NPFL on Sunday, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Nwagu opened the scoring after seven minutes and bagged his first NPFL career hat-trick in the second half with Rivers United’s second and third goals after Bidemi Owoku had drawn the visitors level in the first half.
The hat-trick took his tally to five goals this season while he also has two assists.
The 30-year-old is however not carried away by the heroics, as the club return to the continent this weekend to face Academica of Angola on Sunday.
“It feels really good. My first hat-trick and the most important one is that it earned us the win. The second half of the season has just started. We’ve been struggling at home and getting this win is very important for me and the team,” Nwagua said after the game.
“This is just how we want to go to the continent because we must score goals and win. So, when we score like three goals, it will push the team and give us the confidence to play and we are very happy because we will be going to Angola with confidence.”
Rivers United are Nigeria’s only representative on the continent this season, and they need a win against the Angolans to brighten their chances of reaching the last eight ahead of another must-win last group game against Dreams FC of Ghana at their adopted home in Uyo.
They are currently third in Group C after two wins and two defeats in four matches while they are 10th in the NPFL table with 27 points after 20 games.
