Rivers United defeated Black Bulls of Mozambique 3-1 in the second leg to secure a 3-2 aggregate victory and qualify for the CAF Champions League group stage. The Nigerian club achieved this milestone for the first time, becoming the first NPFL side to reach this stage since Lobi Stars in the 2018/19 season. Under manager Finidi George, they will learn their group opponents in the draw on November 3, 2025.
Rivers United overturned a 1-0 deficit from the first leg in Maputo, where Black Bulls edged them out, to claim a convincing 3-1 win in the return fixture at Godswill Akpabio Stadium on Saturday. The match marked the second leg of the CAF Champions League preliminary second-round tie.
Rivers United took control early, with Wasiu Falolu opening the scoring in the 15th minute via a brilliant finish. Maclyn Biokpo doubled the lead from the penalty spot just before halftime, giving the hosts a strong position at the break.
Black Bulls responded quickly after the interval, as Moctar Diallo pulled one back two minutes into the second half, leveling the aggregate score at 2-2. However, substitute Timothy Zachariah sealed the victory with a superb strike in the 75th minute, ensuring progression to the group stage.
This success highlights the early impact of Finidi George as manager and signals a potential resurgence for Nigerian clubs in African competitions. The group stage draw is scheduled for November 3, 2025, at the SuperSport studios in Johannesburg, South Africa, starting at 13:00 local time, where Rivers United will face some of Africa's top clubs.