Rivers United have ended Nigeria’s seven-year wait to play in the CAF Champions League group stage after a deserving 3-1 win over Black Bulls of Mozambique on Saturday evening.
The Pride of Rivers started with high intensity, pressing the visitors from the first whistle and taking a deserved lead in the 15th minute through Wasiu Falolu’s toe-poked finish inside the box after a free kick situation.
That early strike sent the Godswill Akpabio Stadium into wild celebration as the hosts pushed to overturn their 1–0 deficit from the first leg in Maputo last week, dominating possession and dictating the game’s tempo effectively.
Their persistence paid off again just before halftime when Maclyn Biokpo calmly converted from the penalty spot in the 42nd minute to make it 2–0, giving Rivers United a 2–1 aggregate advantage heading into the break.
However, Black Bulls clawed their way back immediately after the restart as Moctar Diallo reduced the deficit with a close-range effort in the 47th minute, silencing the home crowd and restoring parity on aggregate.
Finidi George’s men responded with composure and determination, regaining control of midfield while maintaining attacking pressure that kept the visitors pinned in their own half for much of the second period.
The decisive moment arrived in the 76th minute when Timothy Zecharia unleashed a thunderous strike from distance, sealing a 3–1 victory on the night and 3–2 on aggregate for the Nigerian side.
With this result, Rivers United advance to the CAF Champions League group stage, securing at least six more matches in Africa’s elite club competition and reviving Nigeria’s continental pride in style.
Lobi Stars is the last Nigerian team to play the CAF Champions League group stage, in the 2018/2019 season.
