Rivers United Slumps to Defeat Against Ikorodu City: Finidi George Laments Loss of Concentration
Rivers United’s impressive unbeaten run was brought to an abrupt end as they fell to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of newly-promoted Ikorodu City in their 10th fixture of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season.
The visitors, who had been enjoying a 9-game unbeaten streak, including two away wins, were expected to return to Port Harcourt with at least a point. However, Ikorodu City, who have struggled with just five wins in 10 matches, caught the Rivers United side off guard and secured a sudden turn of fortune.
The hosts dominated the second half, with Ayomide Cole netting the opener in the 48th minute, followed by Rivio Ayemwenre’s second goal just five minutes later. Despite Rivers United’s attempts to mount a comeback, Ikorodu City’s disciplined defense kept them at bay, securing a well-deserved 2-0 win.
When questioned about the unexpected defeat, Rivers United coach Finidi George acknowledged that the team’s lack of concentration led to their downfall. “We should have played better, but those were cheap goals. After those two moments, nothing happened in the game. Football is about concentrating for 90 minutes, but we will go back and review the video to identify our mistakes,” he said.
The former Super Eagles coach also reflected on the inevitability of setbacks in the league, stating, “You can’t expect to win every game. Sometimes, you have to bounce back from defeats like this to win again.”
Finidi George attributed the loss to the team’s inability to capitalize on their first-half opportunities and the collapse of their concentration in the second half. “We created chances, but didn’t make the right decisions. The first half ended 0-0, and in the second half, concentration wasn’t there 100%. From that moment, they took the lead, and the game unfolded differently,” he noted.
The coach expressed frustration with the team’s tendency to waste time when leading, emphasizing that it would hinder their progress: “For us to move forward, time-wasting is not an option. I saw that today, and we can’t progress with that mindset.”
Rivers United has now slipped to second place in the NPFL table, tied with Remo Stars on 21 points from 10 games. Despite the setback, Finidi George remains optimistic about their chances of winning the league.
The coach stressed that the loss wasn’t a cause for concern, citing that their team would still strive to win the league. “We knew we couldn’t keep this run going for 38 games, so the boys know they have to work hard. This happens in football, so we’ll back up and plan our next move,” he said.
Finidi George was also asked about the officiating during the match, but chose not to comment directly, instead redirecting the attention to his own team’s performance.
Rivers United’s next league fixture is a home encounter against 18th-placed Bayelsa United, while Ikorodu City will travel to Katsina United on November 10th.
