By Kunle Solaja.

Rivers United joined compatriots Remo Stars in crashing out of the CAF Champions League after suffering a heavy 7–1 aggregate defeat, following a 4–1 loss at home to Pyramids FC on Sunday.

The defeat echoed Remo Stars’ earlier fate in the competition, where they were overwhelmed 5–1 at home by South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns before losing 2-0 away.

In a similar fashion, Rivers collected a 3-0 deficit away in Cairo before the 4-1 home loss to get an aggregate of 7-1 loss.

Both Nigerian sides exited the tournament on identical aggregate scorelines. Pyramids and Sundowns were the two finalists in last season’s CAF Champions League.

Despite fielding a largely second-string side, Pyramids were briefly shaken when Rivers United midfielder Stephen Manyo put the hosts ahead in the 33rd minute with a free kick, ending the Egyptian club’s run without conceding a goal in the group stage.

The visitors, who had already secured qualification for the quarter-finals, responded emphatically after the break. Mostafa Fathi equalised in the 52nd minute before Marawan Hamdi converted a penalty in the 77th minute to give Pyramids the lead.

Substitute winger Odeh Al-Fakhouri, making his debut after joining the club this month, added a third goal, while fellow substitute Nasser Maher completed the rout in injury time to seal a comprehensive away victory.

The result confirmed Pyramids’ dominance of Group A, as they moved to 13 points, six ahead of second-placed RS Berkane. Rivers United’s fourth defeat of the group stage ended their hopes of progressing.

Pyramids had already sealed top spot in the group following RS Berkane’s 2–0 defeat by Power Dynamos, and will round off their group campaign against the Zambian side in Cairo on Sunday in a match with no bearing on qualification in this season’s CAF Champions League.

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Egypt’s Pyramids FC sealed their place in the knockout stage of the CAF Champions League with a commanding 4–1 comeback victory over Nigeria’s Rivers United in a Group C encounter on Sunday.

The result confirmed Pyramids FC’s progression to the last eight while simultaneously ending Rivers United’s hopes, as the Nigerian champions suffered a fourth defeat in the group—remarkably their third loss on home soil.

Rivers United had taken a surprise lead through Stephen Manyo in the 33^rd minute, before the break, lifting hopes of a revival in front of their home supporters.

However, the Egyptian side returned from halftime with renewed purpose and completely turned the game on its head, scoring four unanswered goals to underline their superiority.

Their comeback began with Mostafa Fathy levelling up in the 52^nd minute before snatching the lead through a Marwan Hamdy penalty kick in the 77^th minute.

Jordanian Odeh Fakhoury extended the lead just two minutes into regulation time before Nasser Maher put the final nail in the coffin, a minute into the added time.

Pyramids FC’s second-half onslaught exposed the defensive frailties of the hosts, who struggled to cope with the visitors’ pace, movement and clinical finishing as the match wore on.

The emphatic win lifted the Egyptian side beyond reach in Group C, mathematically securing their passage to the knockout phase with a game to spare.

For Rivers United, the defeat confirmed an early exit from the competition and compounded a disappointing continental campaign. Having now lost four group matches, including three at home, the Nigerian side will be left to reflect on missed opportunities and defensive lapses that proved costly at this level.

With qualification assured, Pyramids FC can now approach their remaining group fixture with confidence as they look ahead to the business end of Africa’s premier club competition.

Meanwhile, Zambia’s Power Dynamos bounced back into reckoning after beating Morocco’s RS Berkane 2-0 to level on points at seven. A win on Saturday against Pyramids could see them pick the second ticket of the group if Rivers United win their away duel against Berkane.

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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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