Rivers United technical adviser Finidi George has attributed the team's second-place finish in the 2024-25 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season to hard work and dedication.

The Pride of Rivers secured qualification for next season's CAF Champions League after finishing as runners-up behind champions Remo Stars in the just-concluded NPFL campaign.

Speaking to the club's media after securing continental football, Finidi reflected on the team's performance throughout the season.

"Our success story this season is all about hard work," Finidi stated. "The players responded well to our technical demands, but we lost a little bit of steam during the campaign."

The former Super Eagles star acknowledged that eventual champions Remo Stars showed more consistency in the title race. "Remo Stars pushed hard. They were consistent and maintained their lead until the end of the campaign," he added.

Finidi also revealed that qualifying for continental competition was one of his primary objectives at the start of the season. "I said it at the start of the season that we would get the continental ticket, and now here we are," he said.

Rivers United's second-place finish means they will represent Nigeria in the prestigious CAF Champions League next season, giving them an opportunity to compete against the best clubs across the African continent.

The achievement marks another milestone in Finidi George's growing coaching career, having previously guided Enyimba to domestic success before taking charge of Rivers United.