CAF Champions League: Rivers United land in group of death

Femi Fabunmi

Nigeria’s representative on the continent, Rivers United have been handed a difficult group in this season’s CAF Champions League.

The Port Harcourt-based team will play in Group A alongside Pyramids SC of Egypt, RS Berkane of Morocco, and Power Dynamos of Zambia.

The group stage draw took place on Monday afternoon at the SuperSport studios in Johannesburg, South Africa.
This is the first time Rivers United will be playing in the group stage of Africa’s biggest club competition.

The team, coached by Finidi George, reached this stage after defeating Black Bulls of Mozambique 3–1 on aggregate in the qualifying round.

Egyptian champions Pyramids SC are the defending champions, having lifted the CAF Champions League trophy for the first time last season.

RS Berkane, one of Morocco’s strongest clubs, are very experienced in continental competitions but have never won the Champions League.

Power Dynamos from Zambia are returning to the continental stage; they last made headlines as quarter-finalists in 1985.

Rivers United now face a major test as they prepare to compete against some of Africa’s most powerful clubs. Coach Finidi has expressed confidence in his players and believes they can make Nigeria proud by advancing beyond the group stage.

The team’s fans in Port Harcourt are excited and hopeful that Rivers United will deliver strong performances and bring glory to Nigerian football.