Finidi Vows Rivers United Will Bounce Back After Historic CAF Champions League Struggles

Rivers United head coach, Finidi George, has vowed that the team will return stronger to the CAF Champions League next season after enduring a disastrous campaign that saw them exit without a single victory.

The Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) side finished bottom of Group A with just one point from six matches, becoming the first Nigerian club in the competition’s history to fail to win a game in the group phase.

Their campaign ended over the weekend with a 3-0 defeat to RS Berkane in Morocco.

Reflecting on the team’s struggles, Finidi admitted that inexperience played a major role in their poor showing.

‘We tried to do better, but it was not possible in this tournament. I think if we come back next season, we are going to be stronger. It is a learning process for the players because many of them have not played in the CAF Champions League before,’ he said.

The former Super Eagles winger insisted that lessons had been learned and promised a better outing in the future.

‘Next time when we come, we are going to be better, better prepared, better,’ he added.

With their continental campaign now over, Rivers United will shift focus to the domestic league.

The Port Harcourt-based side currently sit third in the NPFL standings, three points behind leaders Ikorocu City, and have five outstanding fixtures rescheduled by the organisers.

The club will now look to regroup and channel their energy into the league, with hopes of securing another chance to represent Nigeria in Africa’s premier club competition next season.