CAF Champions League
Out of Contention, Rivers United Turn Kingmakers in CAF Champions’ League Group A
By Kunle Solaja.
Nigeria’s Rivers United may be out of contention for a place in the quarter-finals, but the Port Harcourt club have suddenly found themselves cast in the unexpected role of kingmakers as the battle for leadership of Group A of the CAF Champions League enters a decisive phase.
With just two rounds of matches remaining in the group stage, the race for the knockout rounds of Africa’s premier club competition is tightening, and every point has taken on added significance. Only the top two teams from each group advance to the quarter-finals, leaving little margin for error.
After four matchdays, Group A has begun to take shape. Egypt’s Pyramids FC lead the standings with 10 points, closely followed by RS Berkane on seven. Zambia’s Power Dynamos sit third on four points, while Rivers United prop up the group with just one point.
For Rivers United, the mathematics are stark. Their slim hopes of qualification have all but disappeared, effectively ending their status as contenders.
Yet, with pride, points, and competitive integrity still at stake, the Nigerian champions now wield significant influence over who tops the group, and potentially who progresses.
This weekend’s fixtures underline their newfound importance. On Saturday, Power Dynamos host RS Berkane in a clash that could reshape the qualification picture. A win for the Zambians would reopen the race for second place, while a Berkane victory could tighten their grip on qualification.
The spotlight, however, will firmly be on Sunday’s encounter in Port Harcourt, where Rivers United host group leaders Pyramids FC. For the Egyptians, victory would strengthen their hold on first place and possibly seal early qualification. Any slip, however, could allow RS Berkane to close the gap or even overtake them, depending on results elsewhere.
In that sense, Rivers United, despite sitting at the bottom of the table, now hold a decisive hand. A disciplined performance against Pyramids could tilt the balance of power at the top of Group A, confirming their transition from early contenders to influential arbiters of the group’s outcome.
As the CAF Champions’ League group stage nears its climax, Rivers United’s remaining fixtures may no longer be about their own survival, but about shaping the destiny of others — a reminder that, at this stage of the competition, even those left behind can still define the story.
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The Confederation of African Football (CAF) will conduct the quarter-final draws for the 2025/26 editions of its two flagship interclub competitions — the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup — on Tuesday, 17 February 2026, at the headquarters of the Egyptian Football Association in Cairo.
The CAF Confederation Cup quarter-final draw is scheduled to begin at 13:00 Cairo time (11:00 GMT), followed by the CAF Champions League quarter-final draw at 14:00 Cairo time (12:00 GMT).
The ceremonies will be broadcast live on CAF’s official YouTube platform, CAF TV, allowing fans across the continent and beyond to follow proceedings in real time.
Road to the Finals Takes Shape
The draws will determine not only the quarter-final pairings but also the pathway to the finals in both competitions, effectively mapping out the remaining knockout journey for Africa’s elite clubs.
With the group stages concluded, the quarter-finals mark the beginning of direct elimination football — a phase traditionally defined by tactical discipline, squad depth and mental resilience. Clubs will be keenly watching the draw to gauge potential heavyweight clashes or favourable routes to the semi-finals.
In the Champions League, former title holders and emerging contenders alike will be hoping to avoid early confrontations against continental heavyweights. Similarly, in the Confederation Cup, where competitive balance has grown in recent seasons, the draw could produce intriguing North-South or West-East showdowns.
Strategic Importance for Clubs
Beyond sporting prestige, progression to the latter stages of CAF competitions carries significant financial incentives, enhanced continental ranking points and increased global visibility. With African club football enjoying expanded broadcast reach and commercial partnerships, success in these tournaments has become both a sporting and economic objective.
Hosting the draws at the Egyptian FA headquarters in Cairo reinforces the city’s status as a nerve centre of African football administration, as clubs await clarity on their next assignments in what promises to be a decisive knockout phase of the 2025/26 campaign.
All eyes will now turn to Cairo as Africa’s road to continental glory becomes clearer.
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Moroccan side RS Berkane delivered a commanding 3–0 victory over Rivers United FC to book their place in the knockout stages of the competition.
Berkane imposed themselves early and broke the deadlock in the 35th minute when Youssef Mehri fired into the bottom corner following a swift attacking move.
The hosts doubled their lead seven minutes later as Paul Valère Bassène finished clinically after being played through by Mounir Chouiar, leaving Rivers United with a mountain to climb before halftime.
The contest was effectively settled eight minutes into the second half. Bassène grabbed his second of the night in the 53rd minute, converting from close range after a corner to put the result beyond doubt.
Berkane maintained control for the remainder of the match, limiting Rivers United to speculative efforts and half-chances before comfortably seeing out the encounter.
With the results, Pyramids FC finish top of Group A, while RS Berkane join them in the knockout phase as runners-up, bringing the group stage to a decisive conclusion.
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Reigning CAF Champions League holders Pyramids FC signed off their group-stage campaign in style with a 3–1 victory over Power Dynamos FC on Matchday 6 to secure top spot in Group A.
The Egyptian side made a bright start and went ahead in the 16th minute when Mostafa Ziko rose highest to head home from a corner, underlining their early dominance.
Power Dynamos responded almost immediately. Frederick Mulambia restored parity a minute later, finishing from close range after a well-worked cross to briefly unsettle the hosts.
However, Pyramids regained control midway through the first half. In the 33rd minute, Youssef Obama reacted quickest inside the penalty area to restore the lead, sending the defending champions into the break 2–1 ahead.
The decisive moment came in the 59th minute when Ewerton unleashed a superb right-footed strike from outside the box that nestled into the bottom corner, extending the advantage to 3–1.
Despite late substitutions and sporadic pressure from the visitors, Pyramids managed proceedings comfortably to claim all three points and finish the group stage at the summit.
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