Rivers United head coach Finidi George has reflected on his side’s narrow victory over Remo Stars in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), admitting that the team created enough chances to score more despite difficult playing conditions.
The Port Harcourt club secured a vital 1-0 win to maintain their lead at the top of the NPFL standings and extend their strong home form.
Rivers United show resilience in NPFL clash
Speaking after the Matchday 21 encounter, Finidi pointed to the weather and the flow of the game while praising his team’s overall effort.
“I think it was a good game; the rain also disrupted the play, so we had to go direct and look for a second ball, but I think we created more chances to have scored; that didn’t happen.
We were quite happy with the victory and the goal that came in the second half, scrappy. I think before that goal we had chances, but the goalkeeper did a good job by preventing those chances.”
The home side dominated large spells at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium and were unlucky not to go into the break ahead.
Finidi backs Rivers United strikers after Remo Stars win
Despite the missed chances, Finidi dismissed suggestions of frustration with his forwards, choosing instead to highlight the challenges strikers face in tightly contested NPFL games.
“I would not say I’m disappointed, but I would say encouraged them. I know that role; everybody expects strikers to score goals, but it’s quite a difficult task when you have two defenders or sometimes three defenders and you’re back in the goal.
Sometimes it’s quite difficult to convert, but we continue to encourage them and see how well they can finish the season.”
The breakthrough eventually arrived in the 80th minute when Okon Aniekeme found the net against his former club.
Young midfielder Ochobi Elias, a product of Rivers United’s NPFL U-17 Youth League triumph, delivered a precise free kick after coming on in the 75th minute, allowing Aniekeme to slot home the winner.
The result keeps Rivers United four points clear at the top of the NPFL log and continues their impressive 2025/26 home campaign.
Attention now shifts to continental duty, with the team set to face Power Dynamo FC in Ndola, Zambia, on Saturday, January 24, in a CAF Champions League Matchday 3 fixture.