By Dayo Awoniyi
Rivers United head coach Finidi George has called on his players to display strong mental resilience as they prepare for a daunting CAF Champions League group stage campaign, NigeriaFootballNG reports.
The Pride of Rivers were drawn in what many have labelled the “Group of Death,” featuring Moroccan heavyweights RS Berkane, Zambian champions Power Dynamos, and defending champions FC Pyramids of Egypt.
Reacting to the draw held on Monday in Johannesburg, Finidi expressed confidence in his team’s ability to compete, insisting that Rivers United must approach every game with belief and focus.
“It’s a good draw, and we’re not scared of anyone. If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best,” he said.
The former Ajax and Super Eagles winger emphasized that while his team is physically prepared, the real test will come in their psychological readiness.
“It’s going to be tough, but I’m confident we won’t struggle physically. What matters most is our mental readiness and focus,” Finidi added.
Rivers United will begin their group stage campaign with a challenging away fixture against RS Berkane in Morocco, as they aim to make a strong statement in their quest for continental glory.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
