NFS Rivals friend list (PS4)

Now I know this is an old(er) game, but me and friend wanted to play something together that didn't involve guns, so we got this.  I've personally enjoyed thoroughly the single player and completed it a while ago.  Since then of course me and my friend have tried several times to play together via the menu (accessed in the garage) but he nor I never appear in each others friends playlists.  I have deleted him and re added him as a friend on my PSN account yet to no avail.  I have even had friends shown up whom I added onto my PSN friend list far later, only to have them show on the list?  It seems like it shouldn't be this hard, is there something I'm missing.  I know my friend hasn't done much in terms of game play; as much as I hate when a game limits the co-op/multiplayer experience, could this be a reason?  PLEASE assist as I can't believe it's this difficult in 2017!  Thank you in advance!