Rivers United’s technical adviser Finidi George has said his team will not be daunted by their Group A opponents in the CAF Champions League including defending champions Pyramids FC.
Finidi described the draw as “a good draw, a difficult group,” but insisted his players view facing top African sides as a chance to prove themselves. He added that mental strength will be crucial, noting that while he believes his squad are physically capable, their mindset must match the scale of the challenge.
Referring to the opportunity of the continental stage, he said the platform will “bring a lot of expectations and … a lot of confidence” for his players to showcase their talent. Rivers United will open their group stage campaign in Egypt, facing Pyramids FC in Cairo.
EditorialÂ
There is a quiet courage in Finidi George’s words that few would mistake for naïveté. For Nigeria’s Rivers United, drawn into a rugged CAF Champions League group with the likes of Pyramids FC and RS Berkane, the stakes are enormous but so, it seems, is the ambition. In many ways, Finidi’s tone does more than reassure it crystallises a vision.
To declare that you are not threatened by defending champions is no small thing. It is a statement of confidence not merely in talent, but in preparation, character, and identity. Rivers United are not jihadis of chance, thrown in among the elite they are purposeful challengers, aware of the gulf but intent on closing it.
Finidi’s emphasis on mental readiness carries particular weight. In Africa’s premier club competition, physical toughness is expected what separates the contenders is resilience, focus, and the capacity to harness pressure. In insisting that his team must “prepare mentally” for this moment, he acknowledges that football in the CAF arena is as cerebral as it is physical.
Yet he also couches this with realism. At this point, Rivers will tend first to their NPFL commitments. That pragmatic pacing building for continental battles without neglecting home base is typical of a coach who understands that ambition without foundation is perilous.
This isn’t bravado. It is measured, strategic faith. The road to continental success rarely begins with a trophy often it begins with belief. If Finidi can imbue his squad with that belief and if Rivers can execute under pressure then what feels like an underdog story may become something far more substantial.
Did You Know?
- This is Rivers United’s first ever appearance in the CAF Champions League group stage.
- Their Group A challenge includes Pyramids FC (Egypt), RS Berkane (Morocco), and Power Dynamos (Zambia).
- Rivers United qualified for the group stage after beating Black Bulls of Mozambique in the second qualifying round.
- The group stage for this Champions League campaign begins on 21 November 2025.
- In previous continental matches, Finidi has praised his players’ defensive resolve admitting they “defended a little too deep” but deserved credit for holding out in tough legs.
