Finidi George’s men started brightly at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo, yet were undone by an Ahmed Atef hat-trick despite holding the hosts to a goalless first half.
The Port Harcourt club had hoped for a positive result to boost their ambition of challenging for the African title, but ultimately fell short after a spirited showing.
Nevertheless, the former midfielder believes the setback could serve as motivation rather than a setback, insisting that their tournament is far from over.
"It was a great game and at the same time it was disappointing seeing Rivers United lose to Pyramids after a bright start," Asiegbu told Flashscore.
"To be honest, I didn’t expect us (Rivers United) to take much from a trip to Cairo, especially considering the Egyptians are the reigning African champions with quality all over the pitch.
"But I must say, Rivers United’s first-half performance gave me real hope. They matched the champions and showed character, but the second half was tougher, and they conceded three goals.
"Overall, I will say that the scoreline did not fully reflect their performance and what matters now is focusing on the positives instead of writing them off.
"This is the moment to encourage the players, return to the drawing board, and build on the good elements they showed in Cairo.
"There are still five matches to play, and I genuinely believe Rivers United have what it takes to bounce back, qualify for the next round, and even push for the title."
Heading into the clash with Pyramids, Rivers United were unbeaten in six matches, and the defeat in Cairo marked their worst result since June 2nd, 2024, when they fell 4–1 to two-time African champions Enyimba in a league match.
When asked where the team got it wrong against the Egyptians on Sunday evening, Asiegbu added: "The game of football always comes down to taking your chances, and Rivers United simply didn’t do that, especially in the first half.
"Against a strong North African side like Pyramids, opportunities don’t come often, and once you waste them, they rarely return. I feel that was a major turning point.
"Another problem was the loss of organisation immediately after conceding the first goal. That affected the team’s confidence, and from that moment, regaining control became difficult.
"As the match progressed, you could also see fatigue setting in, which made it even harder to keep up with Pyramids’ intensity. I can only hope the technical crew addresses the fitness levels, because physical sharpness is just as important as tactics."
Coach Finidi’s Rivers United will be hoping to return to winning ways when they face RS Berkane on November 28th at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.
The three-time CAF Confederation Cup champions head into the fixture in strong form, having opened their campaign with a commanding 3-0 victory over Zambian side Power Dynamos in their previous outing.
The NPFL veteran also shared insight on how Rivers United can subdue the Moroccan giants in Uyo.
"Berkane are a solid team, but if the boys play to their full potential, they can definitely get the job done," added Asiegbu.
"In fact, this is a must-win fixture for Rivers United because it will go a long way in determining their chances of progressing to the next round.
"They need to push for early goals and set the tone from the start. At the same time, they must remain alert to the usual antics of North African teams."
Rivers United finished as runners-up in the Nigerian top flight last season, placing just behind eventual champions Remo Stars.
The Pride of Rivers are now aiming to become only the second Nigerian club to win the CAF Champions League, following in the footsteps of Enyimba, who achieved the historic feat 22 years ago.
