Rivers United are targeting top spot in the Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL) for the upcoming 2026–27 campaign, following their painful finish as runners-up last term when Rangers International edged them to the crown by a single point on the final day.
Head coach Finidi George remains confident about his team’s prospects, pointing to significant squad upgrades across all positions during the transfer window—most notably in goal, where competition for the starting spot has intensified.
Finidi emphasised that while a second-place finish is respectable, a club of Rivers United’s caliber must always set its sights on winning the league title.
“I always say second place is not bad, but a team like Rivers United is always aspiring to win the league, so we’ll push for the league this time around,” he said while speaking to AIT.
However, the former Super Eagles boss admitted that building a championship-winning front line presents a massive challenge.
He highlighted a widespread shortage of top center-forwards across African leagues, explaining that clinical goalscorers are frequently poached by foreign clubs offering higher pay—citing last season’s top marksmen who departed for Tanzania after double-digit goal tallies.
“We wanted to get those strikers, but they are going somewhere else, because other countries are also looking for strikers,” Finidi added.
Beyond domestic dominance, the Port Harcourt side is also aiming for a stronger showing on the continent, determined to push past the CAF Champions League group stage exit they suffered last year.