Rivers United head coach, Finidi George, says his team will grow stronger after edging Aigles du Congo 1-0 on aggregate to qualify for the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions League where they will Black Bulls of Mozambique, Sports247 reports.
A first-half strike at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, on Sunday proved enough to send the Pride of Rivers through, setting up a decisive clash with Black Bull of Mozambique for a place in the money-spinning group stage.
Reflecting on the nervy victory, Finidi admitted it was far from a perfect display but praised his players for getting the job done. “We know it won’t be easy, but we’ll build on this win. The most important thing is that we scaled through this round and can now focus on our next opponent,” the coach said.
He noted that the players showed nerves in the first half and missed key opportunities to seal the tie early. “We had chances, but there were lapses and mistakes. At half-time, we told them to calm down. In the second half, we created more opportunities but couldn’t finish. From then, we had to protect what we had,” he explained.
Finidi also highlighted the inexperience of his squad, with several players making their continental debut. “Many haven’t played at this level before, so the nervousness was expected. With every game, they’ll gain confidence. I’m not worried — they will get better,” he said.
Looking ahead, the former Super Eagles winger assured fans that Rivers United will be ready for the Mozambican champions. “We’ll prepare well for Black Bull. It’s going to be tough, but this win gives us something to build on.”
Rivers United will travel to Maputo for the first leg on October 17, 2025 before returning to Uyo for the return leg where the winner over the legs will make it into the group stage.
