Rivers United made it to the CAF Confederation Cup knockout phase in back to back seasons for the very first time after defeating Dreams FC 2-1 in their final Group D match in Uyo on Sunday.
The Pride of Rivers came into the game needing to defeat the Ghanaian outfit, who had 12 points, at least 1-0 to edge them on head to head after their 2-1 loss in Accra earlier.
Meanwhile, Club Africain, who were tied on nine points with Rivers, faced already-eliminated and pointless Academica do Lobito of Angola, in their final game.
Things seemed to fall apart for United when Abdul Aziz Issah gave Dreams FC the lead in the 40th minute. The Port Harcourt outfit’s misery was further compounded when Former Lobi Stars and Sunshine Stars forward Kingsley Eduwo scored for Club Africain in the 58th minute to give the Tunisian side the lead.
Rivers tried to bring some hope back when Deputy Echeta levelled in the 61st minute.
The Advantage was still in Club Africain’s favour at this point but took a turn when Samuel Cachimbombo leveled for Academica in the 78th minute.
Fortune would smile on Rivers as Seth Agyemang was given a second yellow card with nine minutes remaining and this allowed Stanley Eguma’s side to press hard for the winner which eventually arrived in the 100th minute courtesy of Kazie Godswill.
???????? @RiversUnitedFC ➡️ Quarterfinals. ✅ #TotalEnergiesCAFCC pic.twitter.com/ITSqld3jET
— TotalEnergiesCAFCL & TotalEnergiesCAFCC ???? (@CAFCLCC) March 3, 2024
The result saw Rivers finish in second place in Group C, level on 12 points with Dreams FC while Club Africain finished in third with 10 points and Academica do Lobito bottom with a solitary point.
Egyptian outfit Future FC were the other side to book their spot in the Confederation Cup quarter-finals after they trashed Al-Hilal Benghazi 5-0 to clinch second place in Group A behind USM Alger.
The #TotalEnergiesCAFCC teams are down to 8.
Which side bags the title? ???? pic.twitter.com/FwgMo3FPYC
— TotalEnergiesCAFCL & TotalEnergiesCAFCC ???? (@CAFCLCC) March 3, 2024
Rivers United and Future FC were joined in the last eight along with Zamalek, RS Berkane, Stade Malien and Abu Salem.
