Rivers United Qualify For CAF Confederation Cup Group Stage

Rivers United have qualified for the group stage of the 2023-2024 CAF Confederation Cup after beating Etoile Filante 2-0 in Port Harcourt on Sunday, October 1.

Recall that the first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup second Preliminary Round between the 2022 Nigeria Premier Football League winners and the Burkinabé Premier League club ended in a goalless draw at the Municipal Stadium in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast on September 17.

During the second leg of the encounter in Port Harcourt on Sunday, Rivers United and their visitors played a goalless draw in the first half before Alex Oyowah scored two quick goals in the last minutes of the game to seal the victory for the Nigerian team.

Rivers United missed two penalties in the game which Etoile Filante dominated for most duration of the encounter.

After breaking the stalemate in the 89th minute, Oyowah scored a penalty goal to extend the lead in extra time.

The visitors’ goalkeeper stopped Endurance Ebedebiri’s shot from 12 yards in the first half, and after taking the second penalty, Farouk Mohamed also hit the post.

Rivers United are the only Nigerian club in the group stage of continental competition, as Enyimba, Remo Stars, and Bendel Insurance did not advance to the group stages on the continent.

While Insurance was knocked out from the Confederation Cup by RS Berkane 3-2 on aggregate, Enyimba and Remo were eliminated from the CAF Champions League in the first round of the preliminary stage.