**Rivers United Paying Price of CAF Champions League Campaign, Admits Assistant Coach** Rivers United Assistant Coach, Yemi Olanrewaju, has acknowledged that the team is feeling the effects of their involvement in the CAF Champions League following their 1-0 defeat to Niger Tornadoes in Thursday's rescheduled NPFL matchday 26 fixture at the Bako Kontagora Stadium in Minna. The defeat, which saw Terdoo Shimagande score the only goal of the match in the 67th minute, has left Rivers United with a slender one-point lead over Enugu Rangers in the title race. Niger Tornadoes, meanwhile, lifted themselves to ninth on the table with 39 points. Rivers United maintain 52 points, while Rangers sit second with 51, and Ikorodu City occupy third place with 48 points, with four matches remaining in the 2025/2026 season. The Assistant Coach spoke at the post-match press conference in place of Technical Manager Finidi George, and emphasized that the league remains open despite the pressure. "It was a good game, one we dominated right from the first half. I don't think they (Niger Tornadoes) created any clear-cut chances, except for the mix-up that led to their goal," Olanrewaju said. He attributed the team's struggles to fixture congestion resulting from their CAF Champions League campaign. "It's one of those things. I think we're paying the price of playing on the continent, which has led to fixture congestion. And don't forget, every team is playing for something, so we know it's going to be difficult," Olanrewaju stated. The team's Assistant Coach expressed confidence in the mental strength of the players, despite the demanding schedule. "These Rivers United players are mentally strong. Like I said, everybody is playing for something. Those outstanding games we couldn't play during our continental campaign are what we're playing now," he added. Rivers United will now focus on their next match, a trip to face Nasarawa United in Wednesday's NPFL Matchday 31 fixture in Lafia, Nasarawa State. Olanrewaju concluded, "The league is still a marathon. We still have eight games, and our focus is now on the next match. We don't want to dwell on previous results. Our attention is fully on what comes next."