Rivers United head coach Finidi George has criticised Enugu Rangers following their 1-1 draw in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), saying the reigning champions failed to perform to the standard expected of title holders.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Finidi expressed disappointment with Rangers’ display, insisting that his side controlled much of the encounter and created enough chances to claim all three points.
“They didn’t play like champions at all, I have to be honest,” Finidi said.
The Rivers United manager admitted that his team had anticipated a difficult contest against Rangers but maintained that the visitors failed to match expectations during the game.
“Enugu Rangers came into the match, we were expecting it to be a tough one. If you look at the game, we controlled the entire match and also created a good number of chances in both halves, but the players couldn’t convert them into goals,” he explained.
Finidi also suggested that Rangers were fortunate to leave Port Harcourt with a point, given the opportunities his team created.
“They should be happy that they got the one point,” he added.
The former Super Eagles winger’s comments highlighted his frustration with Rivers United’s inability to turn their chances into goals, despite what he considered an encouraging overall performance.
The draw leaves Rivers United with questions to address in front of goal as the NPFL season progresses. Finidi will be keen to see his players become more clinical, particularly in matches against fellow title contenders.
The result also adds another talking point to the rivalry between two of Nigerian football’s established clubs, with Rivers United continuing their push for the league title.
Rangers, meanwhile, will have an opportunity to respond on the pitch when the two sides meet again.
