Finidi George believes Rivers United have been handed a “fair” draw in the opening rounds of the 2026/27 CAF Champions League but insists preparation not reputationwill determine whether the Nigerian club can continue its recent rise on the continent.
The Pride of Rivers were paired with FC San Pedro of Côte d’Ivoire in the first preliminary round following Tuesday’s draw in Cairo, with the first leg scheduled to be played away before the return fixture in Nigeria.
Speaking in an audio message shared by Rivers United Media Officer Charles Mayuku in the club’s official media WhatsApp group, monitored by TheAthleticNG, the former Super Eagles head coach said the draw was favorable but warned that nothing could be taken for granted in continental football.
“The draw I would say is not a bad one, but you don’t know what’s going to happen in these games,” Finidi said.
“But it’s quite a fair one. We’ll see how we can know more about them and see how we can strategise.”
The 54-year-old also believes playing the first leg away could work in Rivers United’s favour.
“We are going there first, so that is a good thing. We’ll see how we can get a good result over there.
“We’ll come back home and see how we can get to the next preliminaries.”
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Finidi’s measured optimism reflects the progress Rivers United have made in recent seasons.
The Port Harcourt club reached the CAF Champions League group stage for the first time in their history during the 2025/26 campaign, marking a significant milestone for both the club and Nigerian football.
Competing against some of Africa’s strongest sides, Rivers United gained valuable experience despite falling short of the knockout rounds. That campaign followed an earlier run to the CAF Confederation Cup quarter finals, underlining the club’s growing reputation on the continental stage.
Their recent performances also earned Rivers United a Level 3 seeding in this season’s CAF Champions League draw, making them one of only six ranked clubs in that category.
The immediate challenge, however, is overcoming FC San Pedro, one of six Level 4 ranked clubs in the competition.
The first preliminary round will be played between 4 and 6 September, with the return leg scheduled for 11 to 13 September.
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Should Rivers United progress, they will move into the second preliminary round in October, where another two-legged tie will stand between them and a second consecutive appearance in the lucrative CAF Champions’ League group stage.
