CAFCC: Rivers United succumb to disappointing defeat against Yanga in Uyo

Rivers United have one foot out of the CAF Confederation Cup after a below-par showing saw Young Africans SC secure a 2-0 win over them at the Godswill  Akpabio Stadium in Uyo. The Nigerian side lost the first leg of their quarterfinal tie at home in disappointing fashion.

After securing a second-place finish in the group phase to reach their first-ever CAF Confederation Cup quarterfinals, Rivers United were drawn against Tanzanian side Young Africans, who they had defeated in both of their previous meetings.

The visitors started the game on the front foot in Uyo as they put Victor Sochima to the test early on, also crashing the frame of the goal in the opening ten minutes as the Nigerian champions struggled to match their intensity.

After a drab first half, the Tanzanian outfit took the lead through Congolese striker Fiston Mayele in the 73rd minute when he beat the offside trap to run onto a through ball and clip an effort over the onrushing Sochima.

Mayele added his and his side’s second nine minutes later after a perfectly executed counter attack. Rivers United had a corner kick which they misused, and the Tanzanian side took four passes to get the ball to Mayele, who fired into an unguarded net with Sochima caught in no man’s land from the initial pass.

Rivers United have a huge mountain to climb after a home loss, and the club have lost two consecutive games on the continent for the first time in its history. Both sides will face off again in a week with a place in the semifinals on the line.