Finidi Hails ‘Important Win’ as Rivers United Fight Back to Beat Plateau United

Rivers United technical adviser Finidi George described his team’s 2–1 victory over Plateau United as “an important win” following their Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) clash at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt.

Plateau United initially took the lead through Silas Nenrot, but the visitors responded strongly in the second half. Boluwaji Sholumade scored the equaliser before an own goal from Wisdom Ndon secured all three points for Rivers United.

The result extended Rivers United’s unbeaten league run to eight games and boosted their position near the top of the table.

Reflecting after the match, Finidi acknowledged that his team struggled in the first half and gave opponents too many throw-ins and free kicks that allowed Plateau United into the game. However, he explained that tactical adjustments in the second half enabled Rivers United to press higher, win second balls and dominate territory  adjustments that ultimately swung the game in their favour.

He also referenced a recent draw against Abia Warriors where a stoppage-time equaliser denied his side a win, saying the victory over Plateau United was a positive response to that result. Rivers United are scheduled to host Wikki Tourists in their next NPFL fixture in Port Harcourt.

Editorial

There are wins that feel routine, and then there are wins that feel necessary. Rivers United’s comeback over Plateau United — snatched not through luck, but through will and tactical nuance belongs emphatically to the latter category.

When Finidi George speaks of an “important win,” he does so with the authority of a coach who understands not just the mathematics of a league table, but the psychology of momentum. After conceding early, Rivers United could have capitulated, allowed frustration to seep into their play, and drifted. Instead, in the second half, they imposed themselves. They pressed higher, they refused to concede territory, and they made the game uncomfortable for their opponents. That is not mere adjustment; that is intent.

Football at this level is as much about nerve as it is about skill. Players who can shrug off an early setback, regain composure and turn the tide demonstrate the kind of character that often decides domestic titles. There was nothing fanciful about Rivers United’s victory no late-deciding penalty, no breakaway brilliance just a collective grafting, a win earned through structure, discipline and persistence.

For Rivers, who find themselves climbing the league with an unbeaten run behind them, this was more than three points. It was validation that this squad, under Finidi’s guidance, can respond to adversity and refuse to be defined by half-time deficits. In a championship where the margins are thin and the pressure unrelenting, that is a priceless quality.

Did You Know?

1. Rivers United’s victory over Plateau United extended their unbeaten run in the NPFL to eight games, a run that reflects one of the best forms in the league this season.
2. Plateau United took the lead early in the match through Silas Nenrot, but Rivers United’s resilience turned the game around in the second half.
3. The match featured an own goal by Wisdom Ndon, which ultimately proved to be the decisive goal for the Pride of Rivers.
4. Rivers United’s strong away form is part of a broader campaign that has seen them move near the top of the NPFL table, competing for continental qualification places.
5. Coach Finidi George, a former Super Eagles legend, has been instrumental in stabilising Rivers United’s fortunes, blending experienced campaigners with youthful energy for consistency across competitions.