By Wale Mustapha
Rivers United Technical Adviser George Finidi has promised to reinforce the team with trusted and experienced players ahead of their campaign in the CAF Champions League.
The Port Harcourt-based club secured a second-place finish in the just-concluded Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season, earning a ticket to represent Nigeria in next season’s continental competition.
Speaking to the club’s media, Finidi emphasized the need for measured but strategic squad strengthening, noting that only a handful of additions will be made to enhance the team’s competitiveness on the African stage.
“Four, five or six additions isn’t bad for a group like this. We won’t just bring in players—we will recruit trusted players with continental experience as well,” he said.
The former Enyimba head coach, reflecting on his past experience in continental football, stressed the importance of mental toughness and exposure when competing abroad.
“It’s not just about bringing players. When it gets to the continent, some shrink. I know what I saw in Enyimba against Wydad Casablanca in Morocco—some players couldn’t cope with the noise and the atmosphere,” Finidi recalled.
He added that proper preparation and targeted recruitment will be key to avoiding early exits.
“We know the CAF Champions League will be difficult. We have to prepare properly and get the right legs,” he concluded.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career 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.
