RIVERS UNITED ELIMINATED FROM CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
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By: Muftau Fatimo
Rivers United have been eliminated from the CAF Champions League preliminary round after playing out a 2-2 draw against San Pedro of Ivory Coast at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Sunday.
The 2025/26 Nigeria Premier Football League runners-up were knocked out on the away-goals rule after the two-legged tie ended 3-3 on aggregate.
Rivers United had secured a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Ivory Coast last weekend, but they faced an uphill battle in the return fixture after conceding twice within the opening 20 minutes.
San Pedro stunned the home side by taking a 2-0 lead early in the game. The Ivorian club opened the scoring in the 14th minute before doubling their advantage five minutes later, leaving Rivers United under immense pressure.
The Nigerian side, however, fought back in the second half to level the score at 2-2, but the comeback was not enough to prevent their elimination from the competition.
The Nigerian side responded before half-time, pulling a goal back in the 43rd minute to reduce the deficit to 2-1 at the break
Rivers United continued to press for an equaliser after the restart, knowing another goal would keep their hopes of progressing alive.
Their persistence finally paid off in the 88th minute when they were awarded a penalty, which was converted to level the game at 2-2.
The late equaliser brought the aggregate score to 3-3, but Rivers United could not find the decisive goal needed to secure qualification.
With the two legs ending level on aggregate, San Pedro progressed on the away-goals rule, condemning Rivers United to a disappointing early exit from the competition.
Rivers United’s elimination means NPFL champions Rangers International are now the only Nigerian club remaining in the CAF Champions League preliminary round. Rangers will face Algerian side USM Alger in the second round in October.
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