Finidi George explains why Pyramids thrashed Rivers United 3-0

Rivers United head coach Finidi George has attributed his team’s heavy 3-0 defeat to Pyramids FC to poor finishing and decisive defensive lapses during their CAF Champions League group stage opener in Cairo.

The Port Harcourt side kept pace with the Egyptian giants during a balanced first half, but the encounter unravelled quickly after the break.

Pyramids FC came out with renewed intensity in the second half and broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute, when Ahmed Atef El Sayed finished from close range following a defensive mix-up.

Just five minutes later, Atef doubled the lead, this time heading into the top corner after latching onto a perfectly weighted through ball from Karim Hafez.

With Rivers United struggling to regroup, the Egyptian side continued to dominate. Atef completed his hat-trick in the 72nd minute, calmly slotting home from a Mohamed Reda assist to secure a commanding victory for the hosts.

Reacting after the match, Finidi George praised his players’ effort but expressed frustration over the decisive errors that changed the course of the game.

The former Super Eagles winger maintained that the performance in the first half showed promise but stressed the need for sharper concentration and composure in key moments.

“We played well, but the final touch was not there. We did well in the first half, and in the second half, their first goal was a mistake from our defender. If you allow a team like this to score, they gain momentum. From that, they got their second goal, and from there, the game was over,” Finidi said.

Rivers United now shift their focus to their next group-stage matchup, where they will host Moroccan powerhouse RS Berkane at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, on Friday.