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Impressive CAF Cup victory for Nigeria's Rivers United

football26 November 2023 23:02| © AFP
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Samuel Antwi celebrates with Rivers United teammates © Backpage Pix

Nigerian club Rivers United defeated Angolan visitors Academica Lobito 3-0 on Sunday and were the most impressive winners when the group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup kicked off.

Home teams dominated, winning seven of the eight matches without conceding in the African equivalent of the Uefa Europa League.

Former title-holders Stade Malien of Mali were the exception as they surprised Diables Noirs of Congo 3-1 in Brazzaville.

Rivers needed only three minutes to take the lead in Port Harcourt through Ghanaian Samuel Antwi, and Paul Odeh and Shadrack Asiegbu netted in the second half.

They hope to become the first Nigerian winners of the Confederation Cup, with the best showing so far being in 2005 when Dolphins were runners-up.

Rivers top Group C on goal difference from Club Africain of Tunisia, who scored twice within 19 minutes to beat Dreams of Ghana 2-0 in Rades.

Nigerian Kingsley Eduwo got the second goal and Dreams suffered a major blow when captain Abdul Jalilu was sent off on 59 minutes after being yellow-carded twice.

Both South African contenders lost away matches with SuperSport United going down 1-0 to Modern Future of Egypt and Sekhukhune United falling 2-0 to Renaissance Berkane of Morocco.

Experienced African campaigners SuperSport contained Future for 76 minutes in Cairo before Ghanem Mohamed claimed his first goal of the CAF campaign.

Future trail title-holders USM Alger on goal difference in Group A after the Algerians beat Al Ahly Benghazi of Libya 2-0 with Botswana international Tumisang Orebonye among the goals.

Group debutants Sekhukhune were underdogs in Group D against Renaissance, who have reached three Confederation Cup finals from 2019, winning two.

South African resistance lasted just 14 minutes before Adil Tahif scored and Youssef el Fahli netted four minutes from time to seal the fate of the visitors.

Malien lead Berkane on goals scored and the Malian and Moroccan clubs are favoured to occupy the top two places after the six-round group stage and progress to the quarter-finals.

Esperanca Sagrada of Angola lead Zamalek of Egypt on goal difference in Group B after wins over Academie SOAR of Guinea and Abu Salim of Libya respectively.

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