Finidi Says Rivers United Must Improve Despite Win Over Wikki Tourists

Rivers United technical adviser Finidi George has called on his players to raise their performance levels even after their 1–0 NPFL victory over Wikki Tourists at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt.

Taofeek Otaniyi’s ninth-minute goal proved decisive as Rivers United extended their unbeaten run and claimed top spot on the NPFL table following the win. However, Finidi expressed concern about the team’s overall display despite securing all three points.

“We are quite happy with the victory but the game proper, we can’t actually see where we controlled the game,” Finidi said after the match. He added that after an impressive showing against Plateau United, the team struggled to dominate and lacked clear control throughout this fixture.

Although the result lifted Rivers United to the summit, Finidi stressed that there is more work to be done, particularly in terms of game management and consistency, as the league approaches its crucial stages.

Editorial

There is a subtle, and often underappreciated, terrain in football where results and performances diverge. Winning — especially consistently is the fundamental currency of a title chase. Yet, as Finidi George’s post-match reflections following Rivers United’s 1–0 win over Wikki Tourists make clear, a victory alone does not satisfy the deeper metrics of progress.

Finidi’s insistence on improvement despite topping the NPFL table is not mere managerial rhetoric it is an embodiment of a competitive philosophy that prizes control as much as outcome. In modern league campaigns, especially ones as tightly contended as this, teams are not judged solely by results, but by how they win. Football, at its highest levels, is a game of control — tempo, territory, transitions, and psychological ascendancy and Finidi’s concern that his team “struggled to control the game” speaks to a vision that extends beyond the narrow prism of points.

This posture reveals a coach unwilling to let short-term success obscure long-term goals. Rivers United’s unbeaten run and ascent to first place are remarkable they hint at tactical cohesion and resilience. Yet for Finidi, resilience must be coupled with composure and authority on the ball. Only then can a side consistently impose its will on opponents, rather than react to them. As the NPFL navigates its most decisive phase, performances of dominance not just results will separate contenders from pretenders.

Finidi’s message resonates because it is rooted in realism, not bravado: success is a process, not a moment. In demanding more from his players even after a win, he reinforces a culture where marginal gains matter, where improvement is perpetual, and where control, not mere survival, defines ambition. It is a rhetorical stance that elevates Rivers United’s journey not through complacent satisfaction with victory, but through a relentless pursuit of excellence.

Did You Know?

1. Rivers United extended their unbeaten NPFL run to nine matches with the win over Wikki Tourists, highlighting consistency under Finidi’s coaching.
2. Taofeek Otaniyi scored the only goal in the match, continuing his vital contribution to Rivers United’s attack.
3. Rivers United’s last league defeat came on October 12, 2025, a record showing how their form has improved this season.
4. Finidi George is a former Super Eagles coach and ex-international winger, giving him deep insight into both domestic and national team standards.
5. Rivers United play their home NPFL matches at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt, one of the league’s most intimidating venues for visiting teams.