Finidi George blames lapse in concentration for Rivers United defeat

Rivers United technical adviser Finidi George said a costly lapse in concentration contributed to his side’s 2-1 defeat by Bendel Insurance in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) on Sunday.

The result at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City was Rivers United’s first league loss of the season.

Bendel Insurance took the lead three minutes into the second half when Freeman Wuchirwe found the net. Rivers United responded with 17 minutes remaining, as Chijioke Mbaoma brought the visitors level.

The hosts, however, secured victory in stoppage time through Jonathan James, who scored the decisive goal to claim all three points.

Speaking after the match, Finidi said his players had allowed a key moment to get away from them, with an attempt to dribble proving costly instead of seeing out the situation.

“I would say it is football. There are moments in the game when things don’t go your way. We were a bit carried away in that moment, which cost us. Our player tried to dribble instead of holding out for a corner kick,” Finidi told the media.

The former Nigeria international also acknowledged that Rivers United had not defended effectively enough when Bendel Insurance scored.

“We didn’t defend well, which led to their goal. I think both teams tried to win. At the end of the day, they got all three points,” he added.

The defeat ended Rivers United’s unbeaten start to the NPFL season, while Bendel Insurance held on to the advantage they regained in the final moments of the contest.

Rivers United will have the opportunity to respond in their next league match when they welcome defending champions Rangers International to the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt on Sunday.