Rivers United coach, Finidi George, is gearing up for a challenging encounter as his team faces Enyimba in one of the high-profile fixtures of the 2024/25 Nigeria Premier Football League season on Saturday. The match, a South-South derby, also sees Finidi taking on his former assistant, Yemi Olanrewaju, in what has been dubbed a “master vs. apprentice” showdown.
Both teams are undefeated this season, raising the stakes even higher. Reflecting on the upcoming clash, Finidi acknowledged the challenge, stating, “We are playing against Enyimba; it’s going to be a difficult game, but we will take it one at a time,” following Rivers United’s recent 1-0 victory over Nasarawa United.
Finidi had previously appointed Olanrewaju as his assistant when he took charge of Enyimba in September 2022, guiding them to a record-breaking ninth Nigeria Premier League title in 2023. Finidi later left to coach the Super Eagles, with Olanrewaju succeeding him as head coach of the People’s Elephants.
Under Finidi, Rivers United have secured seven points from three games, while Olanrewaju’s Enyimba have won two matches, including an away victory against Heartland. The derby promises to be a closely contested battle as both coaches aim to maintain their unbeaten streaks.
