Rivers United beat USM Alger in Uyo
Rivers United claimed a 1-0 victory over USM Alger of Algeria in the first leg of their TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup quarter-final clash held in Nigeria on Sunday, March 31, 2024.
Augustine Okejepha emerged as the hero for the home side, breaking the deadlock in the 10th minute with a precise strike from the edge of the box at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.
Abubakar Adamu’s well-executed assist from a corner kick laid the groundwork for Okejepha’s decisive goal, granting the home side an early lead in the encounter.
Despite USM Alger’s attempts to contain Rivers United, the Nigerian team’s physical prowess proved to be a significant advantage throughout the match.
USM Alger struggled to match the intensity of their opponents, who displayed eagerness to add more goals to their tally.
However, the onset of rain after 70 minutes provided a brief respite for the Algerian side, allowing them to regroup and limit the damage to a solitary-goal deficit by the final whistle.
Looking ahead to the second leg scheduled in Algiers on April 7, USM Alger face a daunting task as they aim to overturn the deficit and secure passage to the semi-finals.
With the advantage of playing at home, USM Alger will be determined to stage a strong comeback and keep their aspirations alive in the competition. Nevertheless, judging by Rivers United’s performance, they are poised to present a formidable challenge in Algiers next week.
The stakes are high for USM Alger, as advancement to the next round would offer an opportunity to continue their title defense and pursue continental glory.
Should they progress, the winner of this tie will confront the victor of the double confrontation between Abu Salim and RS Berkane in the semi-final stage.
