Finidi George Reflects on Rivers United’s CAF Setback: “One Goal in Four Group Games Tells a Story”
Rivers United coach Finidi George faced the media with visible frustration after his team suffered a 1–0 home defeat to Zambia’s Power Dynamos in the CAF Champions League, a result that has all but ended the Nigerian side’s hopes of progressing from Group A.
The Pride of Rivers went into Sunday’s fixture in Uyo knowing only a win would keep their qualification hopes alive. Instead, a single second-half strike from Kondwani Chiboni condemned them to a third defeat in four group matches, leaving Rivers United rooted to the bottom of the group with just one point.
Reflecting on the game, Finidi was candid about where his side fell short. “I feel we started the game slowly. It was a game we wanted to win, but we were a bit passive, especially in the first half,” he admitted. “We passed the ball too much at the back and that gave them time to organise properly.”
Although Rivers United enjoyed long spells of possession and territorial control, they struggled to convert dominance into clear chances before the break. The decisive goal came just five minutes into the second half, a rare defensive lapse that allowed Power Dynamos to score from their only significant opportunity.
“In the second half, after we conceded the goal, we came all out to look for an equaliser. We created a lot of chances but we couldn’t score. We had opportunities to score even two or three goals, but it didn’t happen. That was quite disappointing,” Finidi added.
Statistics reflected his point: Rivers United dominated possession, completed hundreds of passes, and fired 20 shots, yet were unable to find the net. “That’s football. We have to congratulate the opponent for how they defended and the goal they scored. It’s quite unlucky for us, but we accept it,” Finidi said.
Looking at the wider campaign, Finidi highlighted his team’s ongoing struggles in front of goal. “One goal in four group games tells a story. In our league, top scorers sometimes finish the season with eight or ten goals after more than 30 matches. That’s very low, and when you come to the continent, you can’t expect something different,” he said. “Goal scoring is about mindset and conviction. It’s not just about training.”
Despite the bleak outlook in Africa, Finidi stressed the importance of maintaining confidence within the squad. “We can’t condemn the players now because these are the same players we will use. If we do that, the season will become very difficult. We will continue to encourage them and try to improve.”
He also framed the campaign as part of a learning curve for many of his players. “Most of these players have not even played in the CAF Confederation Cup before, so this is a learning process for them. If we find ourselves in this situation next season, with better recruitment and added experience, I believe the players will do better.”
With qualification now nearly impossible, Finidi insisted Rivers United will still approach their remaining fixtures with pride. “Qualification is now very difficult, almost impossible, but all is possible in football. We want to show character and try to get a win in the last two games.”
Despite their struggles on the continental stage, Rivers United continue to lead domestically. They top the Nigeria Professional Football League table with 41 points from 21 games, one point ahead of second-place Nasarawa United, who have played three more matches.
