Rivers United step into new territory this weekend as they prepare for their first-ever CAF Champions League group-stage campaign, and their manager, Finidi George, has already set the tone.
His message is loud and clear: this is a serious battle, not a sightseeing trip to Cairo, Footballrover reports.
Rivers United Land in Egypt With a Clear Plan
The Pride of Rivers started off their journey on Tuesday, 18 November 2025, departing Port Harcourt for Lagos before connecting to Cairo through Egypt Air on Wednesday.
Their opening CAF Champions League group-stage fixture against Pyramid FC comes up on Saturday, 22 November at the 30 June Stadium, a 30,000-capacity arena expected to be loud and hostile.
For Rivers United, this match is more than an opener. It marks the return of a Nigerian club to the group stage for the first time since 2019 and crowns their impressive run after eliminating Mozambique’s Black Bulls last month.
Finidi knows exactly what awaits them
“They are the defending champions; it’s not going to be an easy one. We’ve been watching their tapes; we’ll see how we can compete properly. We don’t want a free-flow kind of football, especially when you are playing on their own ground,” he said.
The former Super Eagles gaffer added that;
“We have to get the boys ready mentally because if you just feel you will go to Egypt and score four goals, we’ll be getting it wrong. We have to plan to see how we can contain them. If our moment comes and we have the opportunity to score, we’ll do that. First is solid defence; keep the team very compact and wait for our moment.”
Why Rivers United Believe They Can Compete
Rivers United arrive in North Africa in strong spirits after a 2–1 win over Warri Wolves, their sixth victory of the NPFL season.
That run pushed them to third in the league with 23 points—just one behind early-season pacesetters Ikorodu City.
Their opponents, Pyramid FC, are not just the reigning CAF Champions League winners; they are a team building an elite African identity.
Their 3–2 victory over Mamelodi Sundowns in last season’s final and a smooth 2–0 win over Ethiopian Insurance FC earlier this season shows that point. This will also be the first-ever meeting between Rivers and Pyramids
Finidi, entering the first CAF Champions League group stage of his managerial career, is keeping his expectations firm and simple.
“I’ll say a discipline team. We’ll go there without a discipline attitude, not letting them play comfortably in their game, and at the same time, looking at how we can get a goal as well. We’ll try to play compact football. We’ll strategise and come up with the best formation to match them.”
His approach reflects respect for the opposition but also confidence in his own group’s structure, something that has grown game by game this season. The message? Stay compact, stay organised, and take chances when they come.
A Tough Opening, But Momentum Is on Their Side
Rivers United understand that getting points in North Africa is rarely easy. But Finidi has kept his players focused on the broader goal of starting their group-stage journey with a solid performance.
“We’ll do our best. It’s a football match of 90 minutes; we’ll see how we can get the best result over there. A draw is not a bad one, but if we can go there and pick three points, that will be fantastic.”
After battling Pyramids FC, Rivers United will return home to face Moroccan giants RS Berkane next Friday in what could be another defining moment in their historic run.
For now, the mission is simple: stay disciplined, stay compact, and seize the moment when it arrives.
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