Finidi George Hails Rivers United’s CAF Champions League Qualification After Dramatic 3-2 Win Over Wikki Tourists

Rivers United have confirmed their place in next season’s CAF Champions League for the second consecutive year, following a hard-fought 3-2 away victory against Wikki Tourists in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) on 11 May 2026.

The Port Harcourt-based side twice came from behind in Bauchi before finding a late winner, demonstrating what their head coach described as exceptional character. Former Super Eagles manager Finidi George did not hold back in his praise for the squad after the final whistle.

“It was a very difficult game. Coming from behind twice and still finding a way to win shows the mentality of this team,” Finidi said. “The players gave everything in the final minutes to score the winning goal. Playing away in Bauchi with the home crowd behind Wikki was never going to be easy.”

The result carries significance beyond continental qualification. Rivers United remain in contention for the NPFL title, sitting second in the standings — one point adrift of leaders Rangers International, who beat Bendel Insurance 2-1 in Enugu on the same matchday. The title will be decided on the final day of the season, with Rangers set to host Ikorodu City while Rivers United welcome Katsina United to Port Harcourt.

Finidi, who took charge of Rivers United after his brief and turbulent spell as Super Eagles head coach in 2024, acknowledged the importance of securing continental football while making clear that the club’s ambitions extend further. “Qualifying for the CAF Champions League two years in a row is a huge achievement. Many clubs fight for these positions and fail to get there, so the players deserve credit. But now we want to see if we can finish the job and win the title,” he added.

Rivers United’s CAF Champions League record offers context to the achievement. The club made their debut in the competition during the 2022–23 season and have steadily established themselves as one of Nigerian club football’s more consistent continental participants. Back-to-back qualifications represent a degree of stability that few NPFL clubs have managed in recent years.

The final-day title scenario sets up one of the more compelling conclusions to an NPFL season in recent memory. Rangers International will need to avoid defeat to guarantee the championship, while Rivers United must win and hope results go their way. Should Finidi’s side claim the title, it would mark his first major honour as a head coach — a significant milestone for the former Nigeria and Ajax winger.

With continental football already secured, the pressure heading into the final round of fixtures rests more heavily on Rangers, who carry the burden of defending a one-point advantage. Rivers United, by contrast, enter the decider with momentum and the knowledge that their campaign has already delivered tangible success regardless of how the title race concludes.