Finidi George praises Rivers United after their historic CAF Champions League group-stage qualification, ending Nigeria’s six-year drought

Finidi George has expressed pride and delight after Rivers United qualified for the group stage of the CAF Champions League for the first time in the club’s history, ending Nigeria’s six-year absence from that stage of the competition.

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The 2022 Nigeria Premier Football League champions achieved the milestone on Saturday at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, defeating Mozambique’s Black Bulls 3–1 to seal a 3–2 aggregate win after losing the first leg 1–0.

The qualification marks a major milestone for both Rivers United and Finidi George, who joined the club last season after spells with Enyimba and a brief stint as Super Eagles head coach.

It will also be the former Ajax winger’s first campaign managing a club in Africa’s top continental competition.

“I am quite happy for the victory and the hard-fought battle,” Finidi told reporters after the match. “To have qualified is great for everybody here. Personally, it is an achievement to get to this stage. Going forward, we will see how we can compete in the group stages.”

The former Nigerian international added that the team would make slight reinforcements ahead of the next round.

“We know how difficult this tournament is, so we will add one or two players. But we will enjoy this for now and take each game as it comes,” he said.

Rivers United started brightly in Uyo, levelling the aggregate score in the 15th minute through Wasiu Falolu, who pounced on a rebound after Maclyn Biokpo’s effort was blocked.

Biokpo then doubled the lead from the penalty spot just before half-time after Timothy Zachariah was fouled in the box.

Black Bulls fought back early in the second half through Moctar Diallo, but Zachariah restored Rivers United’s lead in the 78th minute with a composed finish from Stephen Manyo’s assist, sealing a famous 3–2 aggregate victory.

The result means Rivers United become the first Nigerian side to reach the CAF Champions League group stage since Lobi Stars in the 2018/19 season.

Finidi and his players will now shift focus back to domestic duties, with a rescheduled NPFL fixture against Ikorodu City on October 28 at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, before trips to face Bendel Insurance and Barau FC in November.

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With this qualification, Finidi George and his men have restored pride to Nigerian club football on the continental stage — and rekindled hopes of a deeper run in Africa’s elite competition.