Rivers United is a seven-year-old club and has spent its entire history in the elite division of Nigerian club football.
The club was founded in 2016 after the Rivers state government got permission to merge Dolphins FC and Sharks FC.
Both Dolphins and Sharks were having financial difficulties, which necessitated their merger.
In their tenure in Nigeria, Rivers United has produced several top players, but who is their all-time top goal scorer?
Due to unverifiable records, we have eliminated their goalscorers in the Federation Cup and stuck with the league, CAF Confederation Cup and CAF Champions League.
Here are Rivers United's all-time top scorers.
Rivers United: Top 12 goal scorers
Ossy Martins – 8
Ossy Martins is a striker who has been in and around Nigerian football. He has plied his trade in Tunisia (US Tataouine) and Turkish Cypriot (Dumlupinar TSK).
Ossy Martins first joined Rivers United on January 15 2019, and scored six league goals for the pride of Rivers. The following season, he scored two league goals before leaving for Lobi Stars.
After several trips that have seen him play for Enugu Rangers, Ossy Martins returned to Rivers United in 2023.
Fortune Omoniwari – 8
Fortune Omoniwari is a known name in Nigerian football circles. The famous striker joined Rivers United in 2019, where he spent one season.
He bagged five league goals for the Oil City club and three more in the CAF Confederation Cup.
Omoniwari has played for several clubs in Nigeria. They include Sharks of Port Harcourt, Kwara United, Plateau United, Enugu Rangers and Akwa United.
Paul Acquah – 8
After several stints with Hearts of Oak and Star Madrid in the Ghana Premier League, Paul Acquah joined Rivers United in 2021.
The 28-year-old Ghanaian winger was more prolific in CAF competition.
He scored five goals in the Confederation Cup and two in the Champions League.
Acquah only managed two goals in the NPFL.
Ebube Gideon Duru – 9
Ebube Gideon Duru is a Nigerian international. He has three caps for the Super Eagles. The former youth international and 24-year-old left-back started his career with Rock Foundation FC before moving to Benin Vipers, another grass youth club.
He spent five years with Lobi Stars before joining Rivers United in 2021. The left-back has scored in the two seasons he has spent with the pride of Rivers.
In his first season, he scored three goals and five more in the NPFL to bring his tally to eight. He also scored once for the Port Harcourt-based side in a CAF competition.
Nelson Okwa – 11
Nelson Okwa is not a popular name within the football circle in Nigeria. The midfielder joined Rivers United from Fo Round FC in 2019.
In the four seasons he spent with the Port Harcourt-based side, he scored one league goal in the first year, two in the second and six in the third.
He scored two goals in his final season before joining Simba FC in Tanzania.
Godwin Aguda – 14
Gideon Aguda spent just one season with Rivers United and was prolific for the team. The 25-year-old striker scored in all competitions for the club.
He scored five goals for Rivers United in the Confederation Cup and nine league goals before signing for Falkenbergs FF in the Swedish Ettan-Södra division.
He was the top scorer for the club in the only season he played for the team.
Nwangwa Nyima – 14
Nwangwa Nyima arrived at Rivers United in 2021 from Kano Pillars after a short stint at Lobi Stars.
Since joining the club, his status has continued to rise. The 30-year-old striker has chipped in a decent amount of goals for the club.
In his first year, he scored five league goals. He increased his tally by scoring seven the following season.
Nwangwa has also scored two CAF competition goals for Rivers United.
Ishaq Kayode Rafiu – 16
Many Nigerian players aim to ply their trade in Europe, and Ishaq Rafiu fulfilled his ambition after he jettisoned Rivers United in 2022.
Rafiu joined Rivers United in 2019 after stints with Shooting Stars and Remo Stars.
The winger scored one goal in his first season but had to wait till his final year with the club to hit 14 league goals and become the club's second top scorer.
Rafiu also bagged one on the continent for the club.
He currently plays for reigning Slovenian PrvaLiga champions Maribor.
Bernard Ovoke – 16
Bernard Ovoke started his professional career with Bayelsa United.
Ovoke's skills as a winger were too good to be ignored, and Rivers United came calling in 2016.
He spent three goal-laden years with them before leaving for Plateau United.
He returned to the club in January 2022 and left for Lobi Stars before the commencement of the following season.
During his stay at the club, he banged in nine goals in 2016, six in 2017 and one on the continent.
Guy Kuemian – 17
Guy Kuemian is a 33-year-old Ivorian striker who joined Rivers United in 2018.
Kuemian joined the Port Harcourt-based side in 2016 and spent two years with the club before signing for AS Kaloum of Guinea.
He also had stints with Asec Mimosas and Abia Warriors.
During his stay with Rivers, he scored one goal in the CAF Confederation Cup, two in the Champions League, and 14 in the NPFL.
Chijoke Nnamdi Akuneto – 19
Chijioke Akuneto spent just one season with Rivers United. The 25-year-old winger arrived from Heartland FC in 2021 as an unknown quantity.
He made an impression that season, forcing everybody to take notice. The following season, Enyimba coach George Finidi poached him.
Akuneto scored 19 goals to become the league's top scorer.
Malachi Ohawume – 22
Malachi Ohawume joined Rivers United in 2018. He scored at least one goal in the five seasons he spent at the club before joining Enugu Rangers this summer.
Ohawume had his best time with the club in the 2019/20 and 2020/21 seasons. He scored seven league goals in both seasons.
He was the club's top scorer in the 2019/20 season and the second top scorer the following year.
Ohawume has also scored two goals in continental competitions for the club.
This article was most recently revised and updated 1 month ago
