Rivers United head coach Finidi George has expressed optimism about his side’s chances of winning their 2025-26 CAF Champions League opener against Pyramids FC, SportPremi reports.
The Nigerian Premier Football League outfit travel to Egypt to face the defending champions in their opening match of this season’s CAF elite club competition.
The Pride of Rivers first eliminated Democratic Republic of Congo side Aigles du Congo 1-0 on aggregate, before recording a 3-2 win over Mozambique’s Black Bulls in the final qualifying phase.
They lost 1-0 away from home, but bounced back to win 3-1 in front of their home fans, as they became the first Nigerian club to reach the group stage since Lobi Stars in the 2018-19 season.
- Read this: 2025-26 CAF Champions League draws in full
Pyramids, on the other hand, eliminated Ethiopian Insurance 3-1 on aggregate to reach the group stages.
The Egyptian side have a solid home record and also won the 2025 CAF Super Cup last month, their first-ever win.
Rivers United will also compete in group A of the competition alongside Power Dynamos and Moroccan giants RS Berkane.
Finidi eyes opening weekend victory
Former Super Eagles head coach Finidi George took charge of Rivers United last year after his spell was cut short at the national team.
The experienced coach guided them to a continental place and now gets ready to lead his side out to victory in their opening match.
However, they face a tough test going away to defending champions Pyramids, who clinched a first title in the past campaign.
While speaking to interviewers before the clash, Finidi George declared that his team are fully prepared ahead of the task.
“We are looking forward to an interesting game against the defending champions”, Finidi said confidently.
“It is going to be a good game, the atmosphere is good, and we are looking forward to the game.”
Rivers United continental fixture schedule
Rivers United are the only Nigerian club in the group stages of this season’s CAF Champions League, but they face a tough task of reaching the knockout stages.
The 2022 NPFL champions face Pyramids away in their opening clash on Saturday, before welcoming RS Berkane to the Godswill Akpabio Stadium next weekend.
They play their third group game on the weekend of the 23rd to 25th of January 2026 away at Power Dynamos and host the reverse fixture one week later.
The Pride of Rivers will host Pyramids in their fifth group game in the first week of February, before concluding group schedules one week after that.
