CAF Champions League
Rivers United Target Strong Response as CAF Champions League Matchday 2 Kicks Off
Nigeria’s remaining hopeful in the CAF Champions League, Rivers United, return to action this Friday determined to revive their Group A campaign when they face Moroccan giants RS Berkane at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo.
Matchday 2 of the group stage begins this weekend with 16 clubs continuing their push for a place in the knockout rounds.
After falling 3–0 to holders Pyramids FC in Cairo last week, Rivers United know that anything short of a strong home performance could derail their ambitions early.
Head coach Finidi George acknowledged in a statement on CAFonline that there is pressure on his side but insisted the players are mentally ready to deliver.
“We owe it to our fans to rise up to the occasion and get a result against RS Berkane,” Finidi said.
“We did well for 50 minutes against Pyramids and then lost concentration. We cannot afford to do that tomorrow(this Friday). We have the players that can get the job done and I believe they will step up.”
Midfielder Temple Emekayi echoed his coach’s determination, admitting that playing home matches away from their traditional base in Port Harcourt has been far from ideal.
“Although we would have been happier playing in front of our own fans in Port Harcourt, this is a situation beyond us and we just have to make the best of it,” Emekayi said.
“It is incumbent on us, the players, to rise from the defeat to Pyramids in Cairo and get a good result against RS Berkane. We will go in there and give our very best.”
Despite opening their campaign with a confident win over Power Dynamos, RS Berkane coach Mounie Chaabani insists his side will not underestimate Rivers United.
“Against Power Dynamos, we showed discipline and focus and were able to score the goals that we needed,” he said.
“Tomorrow (this Friday) against Rivers United, it will be difficult because they are a disciplined team as well. We will not underrate them at all. Our goal is to play our game and get a result here. It will be difficult but not impossible.”
Midfielder Rayan Aabid added that the team is unfazed by playing in Uyo for the first time.
“The fact that this is the first time we are playing on the pitch of the Godswill Akpabio Stadium is not a challenge,” he said.
“We respect Rivers United because they have been consistent in Africa over the past few years, but we will play our normal game and we believe that will be good enough to get us a result.”
With Pyramids and RS Berkane already showing strong early form, Rivers United must avoid a second consecutive defeat to stay in contention for a top-two finish.
Friday’s clash in Uyo promises intensity, pressure, and a huge opportunity for the Nigerians to ignite their CAF Champions League campaign and keep their knockout hopes alive.
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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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