Rivers United are back at the top of the NPFL standings after they managed to scrape past their visitors Kano Pillars by a narrow margin during their Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) clash on Saturday.
The Pride of Rivers edged past their visitors in a match that, despite the positive result, was far from smooth sailing, Footballrover reports.
While the result is a boost for the team, coach Finidi George revealed a surprising truth about the game: nerves played a key role in their performance.
The game, held at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, saw the Garden City side struggle to assert full control after taking a 1-0 lead in the first half through Aniekeme Okon’s goal.
Finidi George guides Rivers United to a solid return to form
While the victory was important, it was clear from Coach Finidi’s post-match comments that the team faced significant challenges, especially in the second half.
His remarks offered a pure insight into the pressure the team felt during the latter stages of the match.
“We are very happy for the victory. It was a difficult game. Right from the first half, we did pretty well; we had one or two chances. In the second half, we didn’t create much. The team was a little bit nervous, trying to hold on to that lone goal instead of going for a second goal. Towards the end of the game, we pushed back defensively to see how we can conserve that one goal,” Finidi said.
Despite the lack of fluidity in the second half, Rivers United’s 1-0 win over Kano Pillars lifted them to 29 points from 15 matches.
This sees them unbeaten in their last four outings, with two wins and two draws.
The victory also saw them reclaim the top spot, as Remo Stars, who previously led, fell to a 2-1 loss against Niger Tornadoes and now trail by three points.
The victory over the Sai Masu Gida represents a vital step as the Port Harcourt outfit continues to push for the NPFL title.
Although the win was hard-fought, the former Super Eagles coach can take confidence from his team’s resilience and solid defence as they continue to battle for supremacy in Nigeria’s top football league.
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