By Dayo Awoniyi
Rivers United face a must-win situation in Uyo after falling 1–0 to Mozambique’s Black Bulls in the first leg of their CAF Champions League second-round tie on Saturday.
The only goal of the match came in the 50th minute, when Moctar Diallo capitalised on a defensive lapse to put the hosts ahead, giving the Mozambican champions a narrow lead to defend in Nigeria.
Despite the setback, Rivers United showed flashes of dominance throughout the match, controlling possession and carving out multiple chances, but a lack of clinical finishing left them empty-handed.
The Nigerian side will now look to capitalise on home advantage in the return leg, scheduled for next Sunday at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo. A win by a two-goal margin would see them through to the lucrative group stage, which offers not only continental prestige but significant financial rewards.
Meanwhile, fellow Nigerian representatives Remo Stars face a daunting task as they prepare to host South African giants Mamelodi Sundowns at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta on Sunday.
With national pride and CAF progression on the line, Rivers United will need a spirited performance on home soil to keep Nigeria’s hopes alive in Africa’s premier club competition.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
