CAF Champions League
Rivers United Eye Historic Upset in Cairo Against Defending Champions Pyramids FC
Rivers United will step onto the turf of the 30 June Stadium in Cairo on Saturday with one mission—announce their arrival among Africa’s elite by challenging reigning CAF Champions League champions Pyramids FC in their opening Group A fixture.
For the Port Harcourt-based side, this clash marks a historic milestone. Rivers United are Nigeria’s first club to reach the CAF Champions League group stage since Enyimba in 2018, and their maiden appearance comes with both pride and purpose.
Coach Finidi George, whose side finished runners-up in the Nigeria Premier Football League last season, led the team to the group stage after tough aggregate victories:
- 1–0 over Aigles du Congo (DR Congo)
- 3–2 over Black Bulls (Mozambique)
The Nigerians now have their sights set on proving they belong at this level. While Pyramids FC enter the match as clear favourites—armed with a 5-0 and 3-1 aggregate sweep through the preliminaries—the Nigerian flag-bearers believe they can cause an upset.
Finidi George has placed emphasis on defensive discipline and transitional play, the same approach that carried Rivers through two challenging rounds.
The Nigerian side will also draw confidence from the fact that Pyramids will be without several key players, including Ramadan Sobhi, Osama Galal and Mostafa Fathi, all ruled out through injury.
Their Congolese star Fiston Mayele and Moroccan defender Mohamed Chibi will arrive late after attending the CAF Awards.
Rivers United, in contrast, have had uninterrupted preparations and travel to Cairo with a full-strength squad.
Olanrewaju Yemi Daniel, assistant to Coach Finidi George remarked on a radio programme anchored by Godwin Enakhena that Rivers United have respect for the defending champions, but are far from being afraid.
Pyramids FC enter the group stage on the back of a fairytale year—winning the CAF Champions League, CAF Super Cup, and the FIFA African-Asian-Pacific Club Championship, as well as dominating the CAF Awards.
But Rivers United insist they are not in Cairo to admire their hosts.
“We know what Pyramids have achieved, but we also know what we are capable of,” a club official said before departure. “This is a chance for Rivers United to show that Nigerian football still belongs among Africa’s very best.”
Coach Finidi has reportedly echoed the sentiment internally, urging his players to approach the fixture with “courage, structure and belief.”
Group A Battle Begins
Rivers United share Group A with:
- Pyramids FC (Egypt) – defending champions
- RS Berkane (Morocco) – two-time CAF Confederation Cup winners
- Power Dynamos (Zambia)
A positive start in Cairo could set the tone for what would be a landmark campaign for Nigerian club football.
For Rivers United, Saturday’s match is more than a group-stage opener—it is a statement of return, resilience and ambition.
And as they walk out into the echoing stands of the 30 June Stadium, they will be carrying the hopes of a nation eager to see Nigeria reclaim its place on the continent’s biggest club stage.
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The Confederation of African Football (CAF) will conduct the quarter-final draws for the 2025/26 editions of its two flagship interclub competitions — the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup — on Tuesday, 17 February 2026, at the headquarters of the Egyptian Football Association in Cairo.
The CAF Confederation Cup quarter-final draw is scheduled to begin at 13:00 Cairo time (11:00 GMT), followed by the CAF Champions League quarter-final draw at 14:00 Cairo time (12:00 GMT).
The ceremonies will be broadcast live on CAF’s official YouTube platform, CAF TV, allowing fans across the continent and beyond to follow proceedings in real time.
Road to the Finals Takes Shape
The draws will determine not only the quarter-final pairings but also the pathway to the finals in both competitions, effectively mapping out the remaining knockout journey for Africa’s elite clubs.
With the group stages concluded, the quarter-finals mark the beginning of direct elimination football — a phase traditionally defined by tactical discipline, squad depth and mental resilience. Clubs will be keenly watching the draw to gauge potential heavyweight clashes or favourable routes to the semi-finals.
In the Champions League, former title holders and emerging contenders alike will be hoping to avoid early confrontations against continental heavyweights. Similarly, in the Confederation Cup, where competitive balance has grown in recent seasons, the draw could produce intriguing North-South or West-East showdowns.
Strategic Importance for Clubs
Beyond sporting prestige, progression to the latter stages of CAF competitions carries significant financial incentives, enhanced continental ranking points and increased global visibility. With African club football enjoying expanded broadcast reach and commercial partnerships, success in these tournaments has become both a sporting and economic objective.
Hosting the draws at the Egyptian FA headquarters in Cairo reinforces the city’s status as a nerve centre of African football administration, as clubs await clarity on their next assignments in what promises to be a decisive knockout phase of the 2025/26 campaign.
All eyes will now turn to Cairo as Africa’s road to continental glory becomes clearer.
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Moroccan side RS Berkane delivered a commanding 3–0 victory over Rivers United FC to book their place in the knockout stages of the competition.
Berkane imposed themselves early and broke the deadlock in the 35th minute when Youssef Mehri fired into the bottom corner following a swift attacking move.
The hosts doubled their lead seven minutes later as Paul Valère Bassène finished clinically after being played through by Mounir Chouiar, leaving Rivers United with a mountain to climb before halftime.
The contest was effectively settled eight minutes into the second half. Bassène grabbed his second of the night in the 53rd minute, converting from close range after a corner to put the result beyond doubt.
Berkane maintained control for the remainder of the match, limiting Rivers United to speculative efforts and half-chances before comfortably seeing out the encounter.
With the results, Pyramids FC finish top of Group A, while RS Berkane join them in the knockout phase as runners-up, bringing the group stage to a decisive conclusion.
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Reigning CAF Champions League holders Pyramids FC signed off their group-stage campaign in style with a 3–1 victory over Power Dynamos FC on Matchday 6 to secure top spot in Group A.
The Egyptian side made a bright start and went ahead in the 16th minute when Mostafa Ziko rose highest to head home from a corner, underlining their early dominance.
Power Dynamos responded almost immediately. Frederick Mulambia restored parity a minute later, finishing from close range after a well-worked cross to briefly unsettle the hosts.
However, Pyramids regained control midway through the first half. In the 33rd minute, Youssef Obama reacted quickest inside the penalty area to restore the lead, sending the defending champions into the break 2–1 ahead.
The decisive moment came in the 59th minute when Ewerton unleashed a superb right-footed strike from outside the box that nestled into the bottom corner, extending the advantage to 3–1.
Despite late substitutions and sporadic pressure from the visitors, Pyramids managed proceedings comfortably to claim all three points and finish the group stage at the summit.
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