Finidi George Reflects on Rivers United’s 3-0 Defeat to Pyramids FC, Blames Costly Errors

Rivers United technical adviser, Finidi George, has offered a candid assessment of his team’s disappointing 3-0 loss to Egyptian giants Pyramids FC in their CAF Champions League Group A opener on Saturday night in Cairo.

The Nigerian side looked organized and competitive in the first half, frustrating the home team and restricting them to few clear-cut chances. But the game unraveled after the break, as Ahmed Atef El Sayed stunned Rivers United with a clinical hat-trick.

Speaking after the match, Finidi admitted that his side’s downfall was self-inflicted.

“We played well but the final touch was not there,” the former Super Eagles winger said.
“We did well in the first half and in the second half, their first goal was a mistake from our defender. If you allow a team like this to score, they will gain momentum, and from that they got their second goal, and from there the game was over.”

Opinion: A Painful Lesson, But Not a Hopeless One

Rivers United may have left Cairo empty-handed, but this defeat shouldn’t drag them into despair—it should wake them up. The Champions League is not just about talent or possession; it’s about concentration, composure, and ruthless finishing. And on Saturday, Pyramids FC demonstrated all three.

Finidi’s men showed promise—discipline in the first half, decent build-up play, and tactical organization. But football punishes hesitation, especially on the continent. One defensive lapse changed the momentum, and a side as experienced as Pyramids didn’t need a second invitation.

The encouraging part? Rivers United are not being outplayed tactically—they are being outscored mentally. Those are fixable issues.

With RS Berkane visiting Uyo next Friday, the Nigerian champions have the perfect chance to reset, respond, and remind Africa that they are not in the Champions League to participate—they are here to compete.

The defeat hurts, but sometimes football growth begins with discomfort. Now it’s time to turn frustration into fuel.