Rivers United land in CAF Champions League “group of death”
Nigerian hopefuls Rivers United have been handed a daunting task in the CAF Champions League group stage, where they will face reigning champions Pyramids FC of Egypt following yesterday’s draws in Johannesburg, South Africa. The Port Harcourt-based side will also contend with Renaissance Berkane of Morocco and Power Dynamos of Zambia in Group A — […]
Rivers United players celebrate after scoring a goal
Nigerian hopefuls Rivers United have been handed a daunting task in the CAF Champions League group stage, where they will face reigning champions Pyramids FC of Egypt following yesterday’s draws in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The Port Harcourt-based side will also contend with Renaissance Berkane of Morocco and Power Dynamos of Zambia in Group A — a section widely regarded as one of the toughest in the competition.
Among the quartet, Pyramids stand out as the only club with previous experience in the mini-league phase.
Despite Nigeria’s proud football history, Enyimba’s back-to-back titles in 2003 and 2004 remain the country’s last major success at this level, with no Nigerian club coming close since.
Rivers United edged Aigles of DR Congo and Black Bulls of Mozambique by one-goal aggregate to secure their group-stage berth, underlining their resilience but also the need to sharpen up ahead of the formidable Egyptian champions.
Pyramids, who stunned the continent last season by dethroning the traditional Cairo giants Al Ahly and Zamalek, clinched their maiden title by defeating Mamelodi Sundowns 2–1 in Cairo after a 1–1 draw away.
Their star forward, Mahmoud Mayele, was the Champions League’s top scorer last season with nine goals and is among the 10 nominees for the 2025 African Player of the Year award.
RS Berkane of Morocco are one of the most experienced campaigners on the continent but are yet to win the title while Zambia’s Power Dynamos were quarter-finalists in 1985.
Matchday one kicks off November 21–22, with Rivers United aiming to make a bold statement against the title holders.
It will be recalled that three other NPFL clubs, Remo Stars who are the current title holders, Abia Warriors, and Kwara United represented Nigeria in the continent this year but the trio fell by the way side at the first hurdle in the Champions League and Confederation Cup.
While Remo Stars as league champions crashed out in the second preliminary round of the Champions League, both Abia Warriors and Kwara United couldn’t scale through the first preliminary round of the Confederation Cup.
Against this background, Rivers United are now carrying the hopes of the whole country.