Rivers United step into a defining night in their CAF Champions League campaign when they welcome Power Dynamos to the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium on Sunday evening, knowing that only a win will truly keep their Group A hopes alive.
After three matches, the Pride of Rivers have just one point to show for their efforts, the reward from a hard-earned goalless draw in Ndola last weekend.
Finidi Demands Total Commitment in Uyo
That result ended a run of defeats on the continent and, more importantly, restored a measure of belief ahead of the return leg on home soil.
Head coach Finidi George has made his expectations clear: effort, focus, and maximum points. Speaking ahead of the match, the United boss insisted that playing at home changes the outlook entirely.
“This is our fourth game and we are at home,” Finidi said. “We just have to put in the hard work and make sure we get the maximum three points. At this stage, it’s about winning.”
While Rivers United have found goals hard to come by in the group, Finidi is not fixated on scorelines. Instead, he is backing a disciplined approach that puts results first.
“If we score more goals, I’ll take it immediately,” he added. “But if it’s one goal and we defend well to keep it, I’ll still take that. The most important thing is to win.”
Confidence From Defensive Improvement
The draw in Zambia offered encouragement, particularly in defence, where Rivers United kept their first clean sheet of the campaign. Finidi believes that platform can now be built upon in Uyo.
“We’ve been defending well, and when you defend well, you win games,” he said. “We’ll go in there and give our all, no matter what the outcome looks like.”
That defensive solidity was anchored by goalkeeper Osagie Onisodumeya in Ndola, but Finidi is eager to see others take responsibility this time.
“The last game was the goalkeeper’s turn to save the day, and he did very well,” he noted. “Tomorrow, it could be a midfielder or another player. Every game needs someone to step up.”
Home Conditions and Tactical Edge
Finidi also hinted that conditions could favour the NPFL leaders this time around. He suggested the surface in Ndola slowed his side’s passing rhythm, something he expects to change in Uyo.
“They know we can pass the ball well,” he explained. “Tomorrow, the pitch will be wet so the ball can move quicker. That will help our game.”
With the Godswill Akpabio Stadium offering a smoother playing surface, Rivers United are likely to look sharper in possession while maintaining the compact shape that frustrated Power Dynamos in the first leg.
Fans Key as Pressure Mounts
As the stakes rise, Finidi has called on the supporters to turn Uyo into a fortress.
“We want the fans to be behind us like they always are,” he said. “We’re not going to let them down. We’ll come out and give our A-game.”
For Rivers United, Sunday’s fixture is about momentum as much as mathematics. A win would breathe new life into their CAF Champions League journey, while anything less would leave their path out of Group A extremely narrow.