Finidi urges Rivers United to make home advantage count in NPFL title race

Rivers United technical adviser Finidi George says his side must win every home match if they are to strengthen their challenge for the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) title this season.

The Port Harcourt club narrowly missed out on a second NPFL championship last season, with Rangers finishing ahead of them.

Rivers United have made an unbeaten start to the current campaign and are second in the league table. Kano Pillars are the only other team yet to lose this season.

Finidi has identified home form as a potentially decisive factor in Rivers United’s pursuit of the title, urging his players to take full advantage of playing in Port Harcourt.

“The focus this season is to win all our home games,” Finidi told the club’s media.

“We will give it a try because we don’t know if it will happen. We lost the NPFL title last season because we lost to Bayelsa United at home, and there were a few other games we drew here in Port Harcourt.

“At the end of the campaign, we were looking for one point. But this season, we will try because all our home matches can be won while also playing good football.”

The defeat by Bayelsa United and several home draws proved costly for Rivers United last season. Finidi said the points dropped at home ultimately left the club needing one more point at the end of the campaign.

His team will now attempt to extend its unbeaten run when it travels to play Abia Warriors in a Matchday 8 fixture this weekend.

Rivers United’s strong start has kept them among the leading contenders, but Finidi believes consistent results at home will be central to their prospects of going one step further than last season and securing the NPFL crown.