CAF CONFED CUP: RIVERS UNITED STUNNED AS BERKANE STEAL LAST-GASP VICTORY IN UYO
Rivers United were left heartbroken on Friday night after RS Berkane pulled off a dramatic late turnaround to beat them 2–1 in a CAF Confederation Cup group match at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.
The Pride of Rivers controlled the first half with a disciplined display and went into halftime with a deserved lead. Everything pointed toward a big home win until the final stretch, when the game flipped on its head.
Berkane threw everything forward in stoppage time and were rewarded for their relentless pressure. Youness El Kaabi sparked the comeback in the 90+7 minute, smashing home the equaliser after a wave of late Moroccan attacks. Before the home fans could recover, Mehdi Chouiar struck again in the 90+8 minute, completing a stunning comeback that silenced the stadium and delivered all three points to the North Africans.
Rivers United made several changes in the second half – O. Duke, S. Oguntayo, W. Samuel, D. Sholumade and T. Otaniyi were all brought on to help protect the lead – but the team’s concentration slipped in the closing moments, and Berkane punished every mistake.
The hosts also finished with three bookings: D. Sholumade in the 73rd minute, B. B. Martins deep into stoppage time, and an earlier caution issued to A. Assal.
Despite the loss, O. Ogechukwu stood out as Rivers United’s top performer on the night, while Berkane’s El Kaabi and Assal delivered high-level displays that swung the game in their favour.
The defeat puts Rivers United under early pressure in the group as they now need a strong bounce-back performance to stay in the race for qualification.
Rivers United will return to training immediately, with plenty to correct after a crushing end that denied them what looked like a well-earned points.
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