Rivers United’s CAF Champions League hopes suffered a severe setback on Friday night after the Nigerian champions conceded twice deep into stoppage time to fall 2–1 to Moroccan giants RS Berkane in a dramatic Matchday 2 showdown at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo.
The shocking late collapse leaves the Pride of Rivers at the bottom of Group A and without a point, with their path to the knockout stage rapidly shrinking.
Pride of Rivers Start Bright, Take First-Half Lead
Following their 3–0 defeat to Pyramids FC on opening day, Finidi George’s men delivered a far more organized and energetic display.
Their persistence paid off in the 37th minute when a dangerous cross into the Berkane box forced defender Lamine Mamadou Camara to turn the ball into his own net, handing Rivers United a deserved 1–0 advantage.
The hosts were compact, disciplined, and largely in control throughout the second half, restricting Berkane to speculative efforts while managing the tempo effectively.
For 90 minutes, it looked like a crucial first win of the group stage was in the bag.
Stoppage-Time Disaster: Two Goals in 90 Seconds
Everything unraveled in astonishing fashion once the clock passed 90 minutes.
97th minute – Berkane Equalize
Substitute Youness El Kaabi rose highest to head home from a set piece, stunning the Uyo crowd and turning the momentum on its head.
98th minute – Rivers United Collapse
Barely 90 seconds later, goalkeeper hesitancy proved costly as Mounir Chouiar pounced on a loose ball to fire home the winner, completing one of the most dramatic late turnarounds of the tournament so far.
Finidi George: “I cannot explain what happened.”
A visibly distraught Finidi George struggled to process the collapse during his post-match comments.
“The overall performance of my players deserved more than the outcome.
It’s quite unfortunate that we lost… I cannot explain what happened,” he said.
He lamented the team’s failure to manage the closing moments:
“Football is more than just 90 minutes. We have to concentrate.
In those extra minutes, we couldn’t manage the game properly.”
The coach had earlier expressed confidence that the defensive errors seen against Pyramids would not be repeated. Instead, the team crumbled under pressure once again.
Finidi Before Kickoff: Determined but Ultimately Disappointed
In his pre-match briefing, Finidi spoke with optimism:
“We knew the mistakes we made in Cairo, and we paid for them. I don’t think that will happen again… We’ll put in the intensity and get the maximum three points.”
But football proved unpredictable and unforgiving.
Group A: Rivers United in Serious Trouble
After two games:
- RS Berkane – 6 points
- Pyramids FC – in contention
- Power Dynamos – still alive
- Rivers United – 0 points, bottom
With five goals conceded and just one scored, the Nigerian champions now face a mountain to climb.
Next Up: A Must-Win Clash Against Power Dynamos
Rivers United travel to Zambia next to face Power Dynamos, another side yet to register a point.
Anything short of victory could effectively seal an early exit for Finidi George’s men.
