Following their 1–0 home defeat to Zambia’s Power Dynamos on Sunday, Nigeria’s sole representatives in this season’s CAF Champions League, Rivers United, are on the brink of elimination, The PUNCH reports.
The Pride of Rivers hosted the Zambians at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo, in a matchday four encounter, hoping to revive their campaign with a crucial victory, but were stunned by their visitors.
Power Dynamos defender Kondwani Chiboni scored the decisive goal in the 50th minute, dealing a potentially damaging blow to the Nigeria Premier Football League leaders.
Both teams had played out a goalless draw in Lusaka in their previous meeting last week.
The defeat leaves Rivers United bottom of Group A with just one point from four matches. They sit below Power Dynamos, who have four points, while RS Berkane are second with seven points. Defending champions Pyramids lead the group with 10 points.
Although Finidi George’s side still has a slim chance of qualification if they win their remaining two matches, their fate is no longer entirely in their hands. They will also need second-placed RS Berkane to lose both of their remaining fixtures, one of which is a meeting with Rivers United in Morocco on February 13.
Before that, Rivers United will host group leaders Pyramids in Uyo on February 8.
Rivers United’s campaign in this season’s CAF Champions League has been close to catastrophic, having failed to win any of their first four matches.
They opened their group-stage campaign with a 3–0 defeat away to Pyramids, before surrendering a 1–0 lead in a home draw against RS Berkane.
Their third match, away to Power Dynamos in Lusaka, ended in a goalless draw before Sunday’s setback in Uyo compounded their struggles.
While they have disappointed on the continent, their campaign in the NPFL has been smooth. They hold a one-point lead at the top of the table with three outstanding matches which accumulated due to their CAF Champions League engagement.
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