Nigeria's Rivers make shock CAF Champions League exit

The elimination of Nigerian club Rivers United on Sunday was the biggest shock in the first qualifying round for the CAF Champions League.

Having forced a 1-1 draw away to Ivory Coast outfit San Pedro in the first leg last weekend, Rivers were expected to use home advantage and reach the final elimination stage.

But the Nigerians fell two goals behind after just 18 minutes before penalties late in each half, converted by Chijioke Mbaoma and Iyowuna Douglas, produced a 2-2 draw.

Away goals count double in Africa when clubs finish level on aggregate so San Pedro advanced as they scored twice in Nigeria while Rivers netted only once in the Ivory Coast.

Rivers have consistently struggled in the Champions League – this was the fourth time in five attempts that they failed to reach the group phase.

San Pedro now face Nouadhibou, a Mauritanian club that eliminated Ugandan rivals Vipers on away goals and are making a ninth consecutive appearance in the leading African club competition.

All seven former champions in the first round progressed, but ASEC Mimosas, the other contenders from the Ivory Coast, had to come from behind to eliminate ASC Kara from Togo.

D'avila Sou converted two second-half penalties for ASEC after Yabouri Yendoubouame had put Kara ahead in the final minute of the opening period.

ASEC advanced 3-2 on aggregate and will face Moroccan side MAS Fes in what is set to be a highlight of the second round during October.

Pyramids, a Cairo club coached by South African Rulani Mokwena, followed up a 2-0 away win over Gor Mahia of Kenya in the first leg by winning 5-1 at home.

Moroccan Walid El Karti began the rout with a 27th-minute goal and Mahmoud Zalaka completed a painful outing for the Nairobi side by netting in the first minute of added time.

On Saturday, the other Egyptian contenders, five-time Champions League winners Zamalek, achieved a predictable 4-0 victory over AS Port of Djibouti to finish 6-1 winners overall.

What made the match special was 41-year-old midfielder Abdallah El Said scoring a 12-minute hat-trick in the first half.