Rivers United head coach, Finidi George, has declared that pride will be the major motivation for his team when they face Egypt’s Pyramids FC in their CAF Champions League Matchday Five fixture on Sunday.
The Nigerian representative head into the encounter at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo rooted to the bottom of Group A with just one point from four matches, following a narrow 1–0 defeat to Zambia’s Power Dynamos in their last outing.
With qualification hopes all but extinguished, Rivers United are now focused on finishing the group stage with dignity.
Speaking ahead of the clash, Finidi admitted his side failed to make the most of their chances in previous matches but stressed that a change in attitude would be crucial against one of the continent’s strongest teams.
“We are playing for our pride this time around,” Finidi said. “We still have to continue and change our attitude, especially in the first half. In a game like this, we must be very aggressive in the first 20 minutes.”
Pyramids FC arrive in Uyo in high spirits, sitting top of Group A after an emphatic 3–0 win over RS Berkane.
The Egyptian side also recorded a dominant 3–0 victory over Rivers United in the reverse fixture earlier in the competition and will be aiming to secure qualification with another positive result.
Despite the daunting task, Finidi believes the match presents an opportunity for his players to restore confidence and demonstrate growth gained from continental experience.
“This team coming here also wants to seal their qualification by not losing,” he added. “We know we have to play for our pride, the players’ pride, and the club’s pride. We will go all out and see what happens. Experience is the best teacher, and it will help us do better in future situations.”
While the hope of progression to the knockout stage has faded, Rivers United remain determined to compete with pride and purpose, hoping to deliver a spirited performance in front of their home supporters.
