Rivers United have been knocked out of the CAF Champions League after being held to a 2 2 draw by San Pedro FC of Côte d’Ivoire in the second leg of their preliminary round tie at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Sunday.
The result left the two sides level at 3 3 on aggregate, but San Pedro progressed to the next round after benefiting from the away goals rule, having scored twice in Nigeria.
Rivers United had entered the return leg with an advantage after securing a 1 1 draw in the first meeting in Côte d’Ivoire. However, their hopes suffered an early setback when San Pedro produced a fast start and scored twice within four minutes.
The Nigerian side managed to reduce the deficit before the break when Chijioke Mbaoma converted a penalty, giving Rivers United a much needed lifeline.
The Pride of Rivers returned from the interval with greater urgency and eventually found the equaliser to make it 2 2.
Despite dominating the later stages and pushing for the goal that would have taken them through, Rivers United could not find a winner. San Pedro held firm to protect its aggregate advantage and ended the Nigerian club’s Champions League campaign at the preliminary round stage.
While Rivers United bowed out, El Kanemi Warriors secured progress in the CAF Confederation Cup after overcoming Guinea Bissau’s União Desportiva Internacional de Bissau 3 1 on aggregate.
The Maiduguri based club advanced despite losing 1 0 in the second leg in Bissau. Their victory from the first meeting was enough to see them through to the next round.
El Kanemi Warriors now face a major test against Moroccan giants Raja Casablanca, with a place in the Confederation Cup group stage at stake.
The first leg is scheduled to be played in Ikenne between October 16 and 18, while the return fixture will take place in Casablanca between October 23 and 25.
For Shooting Stars, however, the continental campaign ended on Sunday after they were beaten 2 0 by Tunisia’s CS Sfaxien in the second leg of their preliminary round encounter.
The defeat saw Sfaxien overturn the tie and advance 2 1 on aggregate, leaving Shooting Stars to exit the Confederation Cup at the preliminary round stage.
