Rivers United head coach Finidi George has called for squad reinforcements following a disappointing CAF Champions League campaign that ended with their elimination from Group A after a heavy home defeat to Egypt’s Pyramids FC.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The former Nigerian champions sit at the bottom of the group with just one point from five matches, having lost four games and drawn once. They have scored only twice while conceding ten goals.

Their exit was sealed after a 4-1 loss to the defending champions at Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo. Rivers United had taken an early lead through Stephen Manu, but Pyramids dominated the second half, scoring four unanswered goals to secure a comprehensive victory.

Speaking after the match, Finidi acknowledged the gap in quality and intensity, emphasising the need to strengthen the squad for future continental competitions.

“Let us see how we can compete in the NPFL. If we win it, we will have time to prepare and bring in a few players to strengthen the team. We have seen our lapses and know we can do better next time,” he said.

“For the players, this is a learning process. They have now experienced a higher level of football. To match teams like this, we definitely need to improve and add reinforcements.”

Finidi dismissed suggestions that Rivers United were simply unlucky, insisting that Pyramids deserved their win.

“They were far better in the second half. This is another level of football, with a higher intensity. They were the better side, which is why they are the defending champions,” he said.

The coach identified indecision and defensive lapses after halftime as key factors behind the collapse.

“In the first half, we controlled the game and scored our goal. We pressed well and didn’t give them much space. But in the second half, there was indecision. Where we should have committed to tackles, we didn’t. Their players were faster and could exploit gaps easily,” he explained.

He added that experience and intensity ultimately made the difference.

“Football at this level is about maintaining intensity for the full ninety minutes. In the second half, they came out stronger and we couldn’t contain them. That’s why they dominated,” Finidi said.

Rivers United’s Champions League campaign also included defeats to Pyramids in Cairo, RS Berkane of Morocco, and Power Dynamos of Zambia, with their only positive result being a goalless draw in Ndola. They will conclude the group stage with an away match against RS Berkane in Morocco, playing for pride.

Despite their struggles in continental football, Rivers United remain joint leaders of the Nigeria Premier League (NPFL) with four games in hand, keeping their domestic title ambitions alive.

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