A largely new-look Rivers United squad heads into Cote d’Ivoire with confidence, even as their coach admits this is unfamiliar continental territory for most of the group.
Want our football coverage to show up first?
Add FootballInNigeria as a preferred source and our stories get a "Preferred" badge in your Google Top Stories, AI Overviews, and AI Mode results.
Rivers United head coach Finidi George and captain Stephen Manyo have declared the team ready for their CAF Champions League preliminary round first leg clash against FC San Pedro of Cote d’Ivoire.
The pair spoke at Friday’s pre-match press conference in Cote d’Ivoire, stressing the importance of securing a positive result away from home.
A Rebuilt Squad Facing A New Challenge
Finidi acknowledged that Rivers United go into the competition with a largely rebuilt squad, following the departure of several players who featured in last season’s CAF Champions League group stage campaign. He said the club now has a young team without much continental experience, but insisted the players remain ambitious and determined to compete strongly. The former Ajax winger also drew on his own history with Nigeria-Cote d’Ivoire football rivalry, recalling his role in the Super Eagles’ penalty shootout win over the Ivorians in the semi-final of the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations.
“We Are Not Pushovers”
Manyo urged his teammates to treat the fixture with total seriousness, warning that San Pedro’s young, energetic squad should not be underestimated. He said football outcomes are decided on the pitch rather than on paper, and that Rivers United are equally not a team to be taken lightly.
A Platform To Be Seen
The captain added that the mood in camp is positive, describing the tie as a rare platform for the squad’s talented young players to showcase themselves on Africa’s biggest club stage, with an eye toward potential moves to bigger leagues. He said every player understands the scale of the opportunity and is determined to make the most of it.
