Rivers United beats USM Alger 1-0, awaits higher hurdle away

Austine Ojejepha (left) celebrates with a team mate after netting Rivers United’s winner against USM Alger in their CAF Confederation Cup quarterfinal first leg game at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo… yesterday.

Rivers United Manager, Stanley Eguma, has said that his boys would put up a better performance when they meet USM Alger in the second leg of their CAF Confederation Cup quarterfinal in Algiers at the weekend.

Rivers United defeated the Algerians 1-0 at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo, yesterday, but the result would have been more comfortable for the Nigerians had they taken all the chances they created in the game.

Speaking after the game, Eguma praised the Algerians for putting up an assured tactical play, adding, however, that the story would have been different had they scored from the opportunities they created.

“It is not over yet…we are going back to Port Harcourt to prepare for the second leg. I believe we have a great chance of qualifying for the semifinals.”

Rivers United is aiming to become Nigeria’s first team to win the CAF Confederation Cup and they kicked off the quarterfinal task in good form with the strikers taking the fight to USM Alger defenders.

The quest for goals paid off in the 10th minute when Augustine Ojejepha fired in a superb strike to raise hopes of a more assured victory on the day. But that was not to be as the strikers wasted chance after chance.

The Nigerian club, who squeezed through to the quarter-finals by finishing second in their group, have a tough game ahead in Algiers in the return leg.

In the group stages, Rivers United won all their home games but lost twice away, including 3-0 at another North African club, Tunisia’s Club Africaine.

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