Rivers United Aims for CAF Champions League Glory
The Pride of Rivers aims to become Nigeria's second club to lift the prestigious trophy. Rivers United eyes CAF Champions League triumph, following Enyimba's 22-year-old feat.
Rivers United had a strong season in the Nigerian top flight, finishing as runners-up to Remo Stars...
Rivers United's CAF Champions League campaign got off to a disappointing start, losing 3-0 to Pyramids FC in Cairo. Despite the loss, coach Isaac Asiegbu believes his team can bounce back and remain contenders in the group stage.
Asiegbu praised his team's first-half performance, saying they started brightly and held Pyramids to a goalless draw at half-time. However, Ahmed Atef's hat-trick in the second half secured a convincing win for the Egyptian side.
Rivers United's unbeaten run ended with a 3-0 loss to Pyramids, their worst result in months. Coach Isaac Asiegbu attributes the loss to missed chances, saying: “The game of football always comes down to taking your chances, and Rivers United simply didn’t do that, especially in the first half.”
“Against a strong North African side like Pyramids, opportunities don’t come often, and once you waste them, they rarely return. I feel that was a major turning point.
The team had been in good form, winning six games prior to the match, but Asiegbu believes they paid the price for their lack of clinicality.
“Another problem was the loss of organisation immediately after conceding the first goal. That affected the team’s confidence, and from that moment, regaining control became difficult.
“As the match progressed, you could also see fatigue setting in, which made it even harder to keep up with Pyramids’ intensity. I can only hope the technical crew addresses the fitness levels, because physical sharpness is just as important as tactics.”
The Port Harcourt club's hopes of challenging for the African title were dented, but their spirited showing leaves room for optimism. Despite the setback, the former midfielder believes this could be a turning point, and their tournament is far from over.
The team had hoped for a positive result to boost their title ambitions, but the loss doesn't define their campaign. They're looking to use the setback as motivation to push forward.
“It was a great game and at the same time it was disappointing seeing Rivers United lose to Pyramids after a bright start,” Asiegbu said.
“To be honest, I didn’t expect us (Rivers United) to take much from a trip to Cairo, especially considering the Egyptians are the reigning African champions with quality all over the pitch.
“But I must say, Rivers United’s first-half performance gave me real hope. They matched the champions and showed character, but the second half was tougher, and they conceded three goals.
“Overall, I will say that the scoreline did not fully reflect their performance and what matters now is focusing on the positives instead of writing them off.
“This is the moment to encourage the players, return to the drawing board, and build on the good elements they showed in Cairo.
“There are still five matches to play, and I genuinely believe Rivers United have what it takes to bounce back, qualify for the next round, and even push for the title.”
Rivers United will look to bounce back against RS Berkane on November 28th at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo. The team is coming off a strong win over Power Dynamos, and coach Isaac Asiegbu believes they can get a positive result against the Moroccan side.
Asiegbu shared his thoughts on how Rivers United can subdue RS Berkane, saying the team needs to take their chances and play to their strengths. The three-time CAF Confederation Cup champions are looking to make a statement in their home game.
Rivers United had a strong season in the Nigerian top flight, finishing as runners-up to Remo Stars. Now, they're setting their sights on a bigger prize: becoming the second Nigerian club to win the CAF Champions League.
The Pride of Rivers have their sights set on history, following in the footsteps of Enyimba, who won the title 22 years ago. This would be a major achievement for the club, and they're looking to make their mark in African football.
“Berkane are a solid team, but if the boys play to their full potential, they can definitely get the job done,” added Asiegbu.
“In fact, this is a must-win fixture for Rivers United because it will go a long way in determining their chances of progressing to the next round.
“They need to push for early goals and set the tone from the start. At the same time, they must remain alert to the usual antics of North African teams.”
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