Rivers United of Nigeria started their campaign in the group stage of the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup on a shaky note yesterday after the Stanley Eguma-side were walloped 3-0 by their host – Congo Brazzaville’s Diables Noirs.
Unlike Rivers United, Tunisia’s US Monastir cashed in big on their home advantage, picking comfortable wins in their opening group match.
The only surviving Nigerian side in the club continental championships conceded three first-half goals against their host with the Congolese side topping Group B with the win.
In the encounter played in Brazzaville, the home side was keen to make a statement from the start of the match and they did so with military precision in a full-blown first-half performance. Three goals in seven minutes were all they needed to wrap up maximum points.
To break the defense line of Rivers United, it took the home team half-hour mark through Carl Wunda who tapped in from close range, before Jaures Maudsly Ngombe doubled their advantage just two minutes later with a low shot with the keeper off his line.
With eight minutes left to the break, they wrapped up their convincing victory through 19-year-old forward Domi Jaures Massoumou.
Despite frantic efforts in the second half by Rivers United to reduce the tally, in the 55th minute, they nearly draw one back and change the trajectory of the game after Ukeme Williams was brought down inside the box by Josie Mwimba.
However, Gideon Duru saw his penalty comfortably saved by Dhody Foutou, while none of their efforts could bear any fruit as Diables ensured they kept their guard tight to bank maximum points.
Asec Mimosas and DR Congo’s DC Motema Pembe played out to a barren draw in the other Group B match played at the same time.
At the Stade Mustapha Ben Jannet, hosts US Monastir scored two first-half goals to see off Tanzania’s Young Africans 2-0. The victory sees them sit second in Group D behind TP Mazembe who earlier on saw off Real Bamako 3-1.