Rivers United coach Finidi George says his side must improve in front of goal despite edging FC Les Aigles 1-0 on aggregate to reach the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions League.
Stephen Manyo’s first-half stoppage-time header sealed victory in Port Harcourt, keeping the Pride of Nigeria on course for a place in the group stage.
“We are quite happy with the victory. It wasn’t an easy one but any day, any time I will take that one-zero victory,” Finidi said. “We are looking forward to our next opponent. That’s the most important thing.”
The former Super Eagles winger admitted his team looked unsettled at times.
“I felt in the first half, we had a chance the striker normally would have taken. That would have given us a moment of relaxation. We saw a lot of mistakes from players, they were a little bit nervous. That urge to win will make you nervous,” he explained.
Finidi George alongside his Assistants at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium. Photo Credit: Rivers United/X
Rivers created further openings after the break but could not find a second goal.
“We came out in the second half, we had a couple of chances to score. It didn’t happen, and at that moment you had to hold on to what you have. They kept taking the long balls to see if they could get something,” Finidi added.
“It wasn’t the Rivers that is 100 percent. A lot of players are new in this tournament, but they will get better. Now we have to plan better for the next.”
Stephen Manyo celebrating his goal against Aigles du Congo in the CAF Champions League. Photo Credit: The Athletic Images
Concerns about finishing dominated his post-match reflections.
“Not really, I feel we will work on that but it’s the players’ ability to put the ball behind the net. We can do all the training, but when it comes to match situations sometimes some players shy away,” Finidi said.
“You can see today where players should shoot the ball, he wants to control in the six-yard box. We had a one-on-one situation where he wanted to chip the keeper.
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I don’t know if they saw me in the 1994 World Cup trying to do something similar. We will work on that and we will get better.”
Photo Credit: The Athletic Images
The pride of Rivers have scored 4 goals in 6 matches which is a paltry return but have been terrific defensively only conceding once this season which was on match day one of the NPFL against Remo Stars in Abeokuta.
Rivers United now face Associação Black Bulls of Mozambique in the final qualifying round, with the first leg away between 17–19 October before the return leg in Uyo on 24 October.
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The Port Harcourt club are unbeaten in their last five home games in CAF competition, while Manyo’s goal was their first in this season’s campaign.
What’s Next?
Before returning to continental duty, Rivers resume their Nigeria Premier Football League campaign on 1 October at home to Niger Tornadoes, followed by a trip to Enyimba on 5 October.
