Rivers United’s Finidi George misses Warri Wolves match to attend CAF A-License course

Rivers United head coach Finidi George is in Abuja attending the CAF A-License Coaching Course, the Nigeria Premier Football League club has confirmed.

The former Super Eagles player was absent from the dugout for Rivers United’s league meeting with Warri Wolves on Wednesday, prompting questions from supporters.

Rivers United used its X account to explain that Finidi was among the coaches taking part in the programme and had therefore been unable to attend the fixture.

“For those asking, ‘Where is Finidi George? Why was he not on the bench against Warri Wolves on Wednesday’, he is in Abuja with top coaches for the CAF A-License Coaching Course the elite continental coaching programme returned to Nigeria after nine years,” the club said.

“So, no problem, the coach wants to upgrade!”

The course represents the return of the top-level CAF coaching programme to Nigeria after the country was readmitted to the CAF A Coaching Convention earlier in 2026.

That followed approval by CAF of the curriculum submitted by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). Nigeria had not hosted an A-License course since around 2017.

In the intervening period, the NFF continued to organise D-, C- and B-License courses. It also held a women-only CAF C-License programme in 2025.

The programme currently under way appears to have been revised from earlier plans announced in mid-2026. Those plans outlined a six-module course expected to run from roughly August 2026 to February 2027.

The proposed fee was ?3,000,000 for Nigerian coaches and $3,000 for foreign participants. Places were to be limited to 25 candidates, all of whom needed to hold a CAF B diploma and satisfy other elite-level requirements.

The course that has now started is understood to have been adapted into a two-module format.

The CAF A-License is regarded as an important stage in the development of elite coaches in Nigeria, with Finidi among the senior figures taking part.

His absence did not prevent Rivers United from fulfilling their league fixture against Warri Wolves, although the club’s explanation made clear that he was away from the team because of his coaching studies rather than any issue with his position.

The former Super Eagles star is seeking to add the continental qualification to his coaching credentials as the programme resumes in Nigeria.