CAF Confederation Cup

Advantage Rivers United!

Published

7 years ago

April 16, 2017

BY SAMMY WEJINYA.

Nigeria’s sole survivor in Africa’s inter-clubs competitions, Rivers United, continue the battle to get to the group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup by having a 2-0 win over visiting Rayon Sports of Rwanda on Sunday.

A stupendous goal by Ivoirian marksman, Guy Kuemian was the highlight of Rivers United’s 2-0 victory over Rayon Sports in a CAF Confederation Cup game decided in Port Harcourt on Sunday.

The Nigerian club won courtesy of Kuemian’s extraordinary finish early in the second half and Emeka Atuloma’s sweetly-struck effort just before half time to put themselves in control of the playoff tie.

United came into the game in fine form following successive wins in domestic competition against ABS FC and Abia Warriors.

The confidence that stemmed from those wins was evident in their aggressive start against Rayon Sports on a hot and humid day at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium.

Emeka Ogbugh should have scored in the fourth minute when he turned his marker inside out only to drag his effort inches wide from eight yards.

Six minutes later, the ‘Pride of Rivers’ enjoyed a gilt-edged opening but the chance to get an early breakthrough went up in smoke as Bolaji Sakin hit his effort straight at the Rayon Sports goalkeeper, Ndayishinye Eric.

The visitors were meanwhile looking assured in possession, menacing in the final third and were unlucky not to score on two occasions inside the opening 25 minutes.

Sunday Rotimi was the saviour for United both times and in the first instance on 12 minutes, his heroic block saved the hosts embarrassment following a poorly-executed offside trap.

The veteran goalkeeper was in exemplary form again in the 23rd minute as he saved well to deny the dangerous Kwizera Pierrot at the second time of asking from 25 odd yards.

Those missed opportunities would prove fatal for Gikundiro (nickname of Rayon Sports) as United took the lead against the run of play in the 29th minute through Atuloma who had been booked just moments earlier for an act of petulance.

The defensive midfielder timed his run to perfection to meet a cross with a brilliant half volley that left Ndayishinye with little chance.

Kuemian rounded off the scoring with his best ever goal for United, out of nothing, to underline his status as one of the most extravagantly-gifted marksmen in Nigeria’s top football division.

The Ivoirian came close to completing his brace and giving United an even bigger margin of victory late on following a howler from Ndayishinye but lost his footing at the opportune moment.

Technical Manager of Rivers United, Stanley Eguma spoke to the club’s official website, www.riversunitedfc.com.ng after the game.

“It was a highly tactical game and I am pleased with our win in the end.

“However, this is not the time to celebrate as we still have to see out the second leg,” he said.

Nothing has been decided yet as the two sides meet again on April 22 at imposing 30,000 capacity Amahoro Stadium, Kigali for the return fixture.

The prize for the victors, over two legs, is a place in the group stage of the competition.

CAF Confederation Cup

Morocco’s Berkane complete semi-final line-up after winning five-goal thriller

Published

1 week ago

April 8, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Moroccan side Renaissance Berkane secured their place in the semi-finals of the CAF Confederation Cup after winning the second-half five-goal thriller by defeating Libya’s Abu Salim 3-2 on Sunday.

The 2020 and 2022 title winners showcased their resilience in the second-leg game in a thrilling match that saw a total of five goals scored in a single half and also saw two players sent off.

Berkane player Omar El Arjoun and Hossam El Abani of Abu Salim were given their marching orders in stoppage time as both sides fought for victory.

This win for Berkane came after the first leg of the quarter-final match ended in a goalless draw in Benghazi.

Burkina Faso international, Asofu Dayo, was the hero as he scored the third goal for Berkane deep into stoppage time that sparked wild jubilation for the home side.

This means Berkane advance 3-2 aggregate and will face off against the reigning champions, USM Alger, in what promises to be a highly anticipated clash.

The first half remained goalless despite attempts from both sides, with the home team facing strong resistance from the Libyan defence, which thwarted all attempts by the Tunisian coach Mouin Chaabani’s squad.

Abu Salim entered the second half with vigour, surprising the Moroccans with an early goal in the 47th minute by Hossam El Abani.

However, Senegalese player Boubacar Fall responded for Berkane in the 68th minute.

Moroccan defender Adil Tahif added the second goal for Berkane in the 72nd minute, bringing the score to 2-1 in favor of the Moroccans against the Libyans.

Refusing to surrender, Abu Salim players managed to equalise in the 83rd minute through Abd El Moumen El Ayan, intensifying the match.

Youssef El Fahli scored the third goal for Renaissance Berkane in the 90+10th minute, but the goal was disallowed upon review by VAR.

The efforts of Berkane players paid off with a third goal in the 90+15th minute, sealing their qualification to the semi-finals of the competition.

CAF Confederation Cup

Why VAR was absent at USM Alger vs Rivers United Confederation Cup match

Published

1 week ago

April 8, 2024

Kunle Solaja

The Confederation of African Football, CAF has explained why the mandatory Video Assistant Referee (VAR) was not used in the epic quarter-finals return leg in which Algeria’s USM Alger edged Nigeria’s Rivers United out on 2-1 aggregate.

The continental body wrote: “Due to circumstances beyond CAF’s control, there will be no Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology at the CAF Confederation Cup fixture USM Alger and Rivers United in Algeria today.

“For the last few days, CAF has been negotiating with Algerian Authorities to release the VAR equipment that has been kept by Authorities at the entry Port in Oran, Algeria since Wednesday morning.

“Regrettably, the VAR equipment was only released at 19h30 today (Sunday, the day of the match) making it impossible to drive the 400km distance between Oran and Algiers and make it on time for the match. ”

CAF Confederation Cup

Malian striker stops Nigeria’s Rivers flow in Confederation Cup

Published

1 week ago

April 8, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Days after Mali inflicted a 2-0 defeat on Nigeria’s Super Eagles in Morocco, another Malian has scored another two goal licking on Nigeria’s continental flag bearer, Rivers United as they fell 2-0 to Algeria’s USM Alger.

Malian striker, Abdullah Kanou, scored both goals for USM Alger that secured the valuable victory that for his team, allowing them to reach the semi-finals for the second consecutive time on a 2-1 goal aggregate.
USM Alger rectified their defeat in the first leg in Nigeria with a 1-0 loss and advanced to the last four and keep alive their hopes of retaining the title.

USM Alger started the match strongly, aiming to open the scoring, but they were unable to do so until the 37th minute when Kanou opened the scoring from close range.
The second half saw a significant increase in USM Alger’s attacking movements, hoping to extend their lead, but the play became more centralized in the midfield.

Rivers United came close to equalizing, but Andy Ogbai’s header hit the crossbar of the Algerian goalkeeper, Osama Ben Boute, in the 72nd minute.

Kanou struck again in the 74th minute, securing the second goal that guaranteed the defending champions’ qualification to the semi-finals.

USM Alger will face Moroccan club Berkane in the semi-finals later on this month.