TotalEnergiesCAFCL: Akwa, Rivers United in slim wins

Nigeria’s representatives in the 2021/2022 Total Energies CAF Champions League Akwa United and Rivers United secured slim wins in their preliminary round games on Sunday.

Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Champions Akwa United edged Algerian league Champions Chabab Belouizdad 1-0 at home while Rivers United pulled off an impressive 0-1 win away to Tanzanian side Young Africans (Yanga).

Playing at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, Kennedy Boboye’s Akwa United laboured for majority of the contest against Belouizdad but eventually found the back of the net in the 87th minute courtesy of Ubong Friday’s strike from the edge of the box.

The win gives the Promise Keepers some scant hope ahead of the return leg next weekend in Algeria against a team that wasted a number of scoring opportunities in the game.

In Dar es Salaam, Rivers United weathered some pre-game antics from their hosts Yanga and ran out 1-0 winners courtesy of a first half header by new signing Moses Omoduemeke.

Five Rivers United players and officials were reported to have tested positive to Covid-19 just few hours to the game, knocking. In spite of their absence, the Pride of Rivers produced a dogged second half performance to keep a clean slate.

The second leg game comes up at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt next Sunday.