Rivers United suffered a disheartening start to their 2025–2026 CAF Champions League campaign after a dominant 3–0 defeat to Pyramids FC, with Egyptian youngster, Ahmed Atef El Sayed delivering a breathtaking hat-trick to sink the Nigerian side in Cairo on Sunday.
The 22-year-old forward produced the performance of the night, scoring all three goals and announcing himself on the continental stage with his first-ever CAF Champions League hat-trick.
Finidi’s 4–3–3 Falls Short as Rivers United Struggled
Head coach Finidi George opted for an attacking 4–3–3 setup, hoping to match Pyramids player for player. Instead, Rivers United found themselves overwhelmed in key areas of the pitch.
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Samson Obi, leading the line, had a particularly rough night. He completed just two passes, did not register a single shot, and struggled to hold up play.
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In midfield, Babatunde Bello was unable to dictate the tempo, failing to create any chances and managing only one shot on target.
Patches of improved play came in the second half from the away team, but the damage had already been done.
Finidi George: “The goals came from our mistakes”
Speaking after the match, Finidi acknowledged Pyramids’ quality but lamented his team’s costly errors.
“We know that the team we played is a good team, so we knew that. At the same time, the goals came from mistakes from us, especially in the first half. We know we have to play the whole match next week.”
“Yes, the difference between the first half and the second half was just concentration. At that moment the final mistake was the turning point of the match.”
“If we had not made that mistake, I think the game would have gone a little bit longer and nobody knows what could have happened.”
Rivers United Shift Focus to Berkane Clash
The Nigerian side will now shift focus to a crucial home fixture against RS Berkane on Friday, 28 November.
With no Nigerian club reaching the CAF Champions League knockout stage since Enyimba in 2016, Rivers United face a pivotal moment in their campaign.
They will need sharper execution, stronger midfield control, and far fewer defensive lapses if they hope to revive their quarter-final ambitions.
CAF Champions League Group A Takes Shape
In the group’s other match, RS Berkane cruised past Power Dynamos with an identical 3–0 scoreline.
After the opening round, Pyramids FC and Berkane sit comfortably atop Group A, while Rivers United and Power Dynamos face early pressure.
