Caf CC : Rivers United Quarter Finals Dream Almost Over

Rivers United welcomes Tunisian giants Club Africain on Sunday in a Caf Confederations Cup Matchday five tie at the Yakubu Gowon stadium in Port Harcourt, Rivers state Nigeria.

The first half saw chances created with the home team failing to capitalize on any.

The away team came with a plan and deservedly took the lead through a well struck free-kick after the hour mark and the wasteful 'Pride of Rivers' were outclassed and punished by the second goal from a Counter attack that saw a Rivers United player deflects a cross into his own net at added time.

Rivers United is the first team to drop points at home in a tough group. Earlier, Kampala City Council swept aside Faith Union Sport Rabat 3-1.

It was game that was tagged by many bookmakers as the make or break for Kampala Capital City Authority Football Club (KCCA FC) in the CAF Confederations Cup and true it lived up to its billing.

KCCA FC didn’t give any respect to the Moroccan side with gaffer Mike Mutebi fielding an all out attacking side. Tournament debutant Jackson Nunda who has been out on the sidelines since 2015 and Saddam Juma were introduced from the onset. KCCA FC asked question after question to the visitors’ defense but they seemed like they also needed this badly too.

Saddam Juma sent a belter inches wide to announce his presence on the team10 minutes in the game. Julius Poloto who was handed the opportunity to mastermind KCCA FC’s attacks down the right did just more that the technical team demanded with mazy runs that troubled fullback Yassir Jarici.

Jarici in the 39th minute brought the youngster down in the 18 yard box just when Poloto seemed clear on goal. Referee Norman Matemera made no mistake but to point to the penalty spot. It was Geoffrey Serunkuuma who stepped up to send the keeper the wrong way in the 41st minute to make it 1-0 for KCCA FC.

After restart, Poloto just like Isaac Muleme on the left kept troubling the visitors defense to search for another goal. This time it came from debutant Sadam Juma who thumped home from close range to make it 2-0 and send the fans in a frenzy in the 52nd minute.

Just when Rabat was trying to find the missing pieces of the puzzle, quick feet wingback Isaac Muleme made it 3-0 for Kasasiro Boys in the 61st minute from a poor defending incident in the visitors box. Allan Okello was later introduced for tournament debutant Jackson Nunda to a huge standing ovation for both midfielder.

 

Also Paul Mucureezi and Vincent Kayizzi came on for Derrick Nsibambi and Julius Poloto respectively, also both substitutes received standing ovations.

Isaac Muleme who had a game of his life almost came close in the 83rd but his effort went inches wide. FUS Rabat pulled one back from Lamine Diakite in the 84th minute. 3-1 is how it ended, KCCA FC taking the 3 points and improving the tally to nine and advantage into the last group game against Club African in Tunisia.

After five matches 1-KCCAFC 🇿🇼 9pts 2-Club Africain 🇹🇳9pts 3-FUS Rabat 🇲🇦6pts 4-RiversUnitedFC 🇳🇬6pts Rivers United now have to beat FUS Rabat by a good margin in Morocco next weekend with the hope that Club Africain and KCCA do not play draw.