CAFCC: Black Devils trounce sorry Rivers United in Brazzaville
Nigerian champions concede three goals in nine-minute spell
Rivers United received a humbling in Congo Brazzaville as they lost to Diables Noirs 3-0 in their 2023 CAF Confederation Cup Matchday One encounter. The Pride of Rivers, Nigeria’s sole representative on the continent, conceded three goals in a nine-minute spell against their Congolese opposition.
Having failed to qualify for the group phase of the CAF Champions League, Rivers United made it into the CAF Confederation Cup Group stage as Nigeria’s flag bearer.
Diables Noirs started the game on the front foot, forcing goalkeeper Seidu Mutawakilu into a number of early stops as they looked to press home their advantage.
The home side took the lead just a minute short of the half-hour mark as 23-year-old forward Carl Wunda Ngana fired past Mutawakilu.
Diables Noirs doubled their tally just three minutes later through Jaures Ngombe as they took advantage of slack defending from their visitors.
Rivers United were further punished in the 38th minute when Wunda Ngana was upended in the box, allowing Domi Jaures Massoumou to add a third from the penalty spot for the Black Devils.
Left with a huge mountain to climb, the visitors got a chance to pull one back in the 56th minute after Joseph Onoja was brought down in the box. Super Eagles left-back Ebube Duru stepped up and failed to convert the resulting penalty from 12 yards, with teenage goalkeeper Dhody Foutou going the right way.
Rivers United thought they had pulled a goal back after 65 minutes when Malachi Ohawume fired past the goalkeeper, only for the effort to be ruled out for offside.
The NPFL champions huffed and puffed without any success, succumbing to a damaging defeat in Brazzaville, their second in quick succession after also losing to Doma United in their last league match.
Rivers United are rooted to the bottom of their group after their loss, with ASEC Mimosas and Motema Pembe playing out a goalless draw in the other group game.
