Champions League: Finidi and Berkane coach optimistic ahead of Friday’s clash

Rivers United coach Finidi George has stated his team’s determination to banish memories of their 3-0 defeat to Pyramids of Egypt, as they host RS Berkane of Morocco in their second group match of this season’s CAF Champions League on Friday.

The Nigerian side held the defending champions to a goalless first half at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo last Saturday before collapsing after the restart as Egyptian forward Ahmed Atef El Sayed struck a decisive hat-trick.

They host CAF Confederation Cup champions, RS Berkane, in Uyo in one of the match-day two games on Friday, and Finidi noted that they learnt from the opening day defeat.

“We knew the few mistakes we made in Cairo, and we paid for them. I don’t think that will happen on Friday. We have all the support, and we are putting in the intensity to make sure we have all three points. The game we had in Cairo has taught us a lot, and we do not want to make that mistake again,” Finidi said during his pre-match presser.

“Our wish is to compete and win. But you never know how the results will look, but we are positive. We will approach the game with all seriousness. For us to win, we have to play our A game.

“In games of this magnitude, your concentration has to be for 90 minutes and not 50 minutes (v Pyramids). So, we have learnt our lesson, we will talk to the players and see how they can keep the concentration for 90 minutes. We are looking forward to the task ahead of us, and for us to win, we have to play our A game, and we will come out tomorrow and compete,” the former Super Eagles head coach concluded.

Only the first two group stage games will be played before the competition goes on break until 2026 because of the Africa Cup of Nations in December.

The Port Harcourt side is the only Nigerian team on the continent this season, having beaten the Mozambican side Black Bulls to reach the group stage of the competition for the first time.

Having reached the group stage of the CAF Champions League, Rivers United ensured that Nigeria’s coefficient ranking in the CAF Inter Club system and its position in the top 12 are maintained. However, they will hope to further strengthen it by performing well in the competition.

Elsewhere, Renaissance Berkane coach Mouine Chaabani has vowed to secure a positive result.

The Moroccan champions, who opened their campaign with a 3-0 victory over Zambian outfit Power Dynamos, are confident ahead of the clash at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo against a Rivers United side that lost by the same score to Pyramids in Egypt.

Speaking in Morocco, Chaabani described their performance as “respectable” and emphasised the importance of building momentum ahead of the encounter with Rivers United.

He reiterated his ambition for the team in Nigeria, highlighting the significance of the away fixture.

“We will travel to Nigeria to face Rivers United to return with a positive result, and we hope that it will be an away victory,” he said.

“We know it won’t be an easy match, and our goal is to reach the furthest possible point in the CAF Champions League.”