Rivers United has moved on to the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions League after narrowly defeating FC Les Aigles with a 1-0 aggregate score on Sunday.
The pivotal moment occurred just before halftime at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, when Stephen Manyo scored in the first minute of stoppage time, giving the Pride of Rivers a slight advantage.
This goal proved to be the decisive factor in the two-legged match, as the Nigerian team maintained its composure to secure a place in the next round.
This victory keeps Nigeria’s aspirations alive in the tournament, especially with Remo Stars having already progressed to face the South African powerhouse Mamelodi Sundowns.
Rivers United is now gearing up for a challenging match against Black Bulls of Mozambique in the second preliminary round, which represents the last obstacle before reaching the lucrative group stage.
The Port Harcourt-based team aims to surpass their performance from last season, when their continental campaign concluded at the same stage.
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With Nigeria’s coefficient ranking also in play, both Rivers United and Remo Stars will strive for impressive performances to enhance the country’s reputation in African club football.
It is worth noting that Abia Warriors were narrowly defeated 1-0 by Djoliba FC, resulting in a 2-1 aggregate loss that ended their run in the competition on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Kwara United also suffered a 1-0 defeat at the MKO Abiola Stadium, their temporary home, against Asante Kotoko from Ghana. The 5-3 aggregate loss eliminated them from the CAF CC.
The exits of Warriors and United mean that no Nigerian club will participate in the group stage of the second-tier continental competition this season.
However, Rivers United has progressed to the final preliminary round of the CAF Champions League (CAFCL) after a 1-0 victory over Les Aigles of Congo DR in the second leg of their first round preliminary tie at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Sunday.
