Rivers United opened their CAF Champions League group stage campaign with a 3–0 defeat away to defending champions Pyramids FC, and head coach Finidi George believes the result slipped away because fear and lapses in concentration at the decisive moments.

The former Super Eagles boss said his players gave away “cheap goals” in the second half, insisting the game slipped away once the defence gifted the Egyptians the opening goal, Footballrover reports.

Finidi claimed that mental errors—not quality or physicality—decided the tie.

Rivers United hold firm in first half before costly mistakes shift the contest

For long stretches of the first half, Rivers United looked composed in Cairo, absorbing pressure and limiting the title holders to half-chances.

Finidi highlighted his team’s early discipline, saying,

“Definitely they were going to have a lot of possessional football, but I think we defended well. We even had one or two opportunities, but the final pass was not good enough. The first half was good; I think we did well in the first half.”

The game, however, changed after the break. Just seven minutes into the second half, Ahmed Atef El Sayed punished Rivers United with a calm finish that broke the deadlock and swung momentum sharply towards the Egyptians.

Reflecting on the turning point, Finidi said,

“What changed in the first half and the second half? Just concentration, fear. At that moment, the defenders made that mistake; that was the turning point of the match.”

Finidi rues “cheap, cheap goals” after Atef hat-trick

Atef struck again in the 57th minute and completed his hat-trick with a precise finish in the 72nd, sealing a commanding start to Pyramids’ title defence.

While the champions showed their quality, Finidi stressed that it was Rivers United who opened the door.

“In the second half, I think their first goal was a big mistake from our players. In a team like this, if you let them score, it will build their momentum. From that moment, we concede the second goal and the third goal,” he said.

Still visibly frustrated by the nature of the defeat, Finidi added,

“We know that they are the defending champions, so for you to win this Champions League, you have to be a good team. So we know that, but at the same time, the goals were cheap, cheap goals, a mistake from us, especially the first one.”

Finidi emphasised that the loss came from mental lapses and not physical inferiority.

Rivers United prepare for decisive home clash against Berkane

The defeat leaves Rivers United needing a strong response in their next match at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, where they will host Morocco’s RS Berkane.

The North Africans kicked off their own campaign with a 3–0 win over Power Dynamos and arrive as co-leaders of the group.

“Each game at a time. This one is gone, and we have to look at the next one and see how we can defend, yes, mentally, because it’s not a physical team,” Finidi noted.

Finidi wants his players to reset quickly, stressing the importance of mentality ahead of the second game.

“If we had not made that mistake, the game would have gone a little bit longer, and nobody knows what’s going to happen. We are in the group stage; we have to motivate the boys because next week we have another match to play. We have to talk to them and let them mentally prepare for the match.”

Rivers United now face the pressure of delivering at home to stay in contention in a group where points will be hard to come by.

With Berkane’s strong start and Pyramids already asserting control, the next fixture could shape their fate in the tournament.

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Last Updated on November 23, 2025 7:22 am by footballrover