Rivers United’s technical adviser, Finidi George, has expressed disappointment with his team’s 1-1 draw against Abia Warriors in a Nigerian Professional Football League match. The game, played in Umuahia on Sunday, saw Maclyn Biokpo give Rivers United the lead in the 87th minute, only for Suraj Lawal to equalize for Abia Warriors in added time.
Finidi attributed the draw to his team’s inability to effectively manage the game, particularly in the closing stages. “It’s just a matter of concentration,” he stated. “We need to work on the mental strength of our players to enable them to manage games when they are almost over.” According to Finidi, the issue is not physical, but rather a lack of mental fortitude, which led to the concession of the equalizing goal.
The technical adviser acknowledged that the team’s approach to the game may have been overly cautious, with the players possibly settling for a draw rather than pushing for a win. “We came to Umuahia not to lose, and maybe the players were not sure if we could get a victory from this game,” he said. The draw is a setback for Rivers United, who will need to regroup and reassess their strategy to achieve their goals in the league.
The Nigerian Professional Football League is highly competitive, with several teams vying for the top spot. Rivers United will need to improve their game management and mental toughness to stay competitive and achieve their objectives. The team’s next match will provide an opportunity for them to bounce back and demonstrate their capabilities. With the league season still in progress, Rivers United will be looking to learn from their mistakes and make the necessary adjustments to succeed.
