Defending champions Pyramids FC delivered a ruthless second-half performance to overturn an early scare and thump Rivers United 4–1 at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo, sealing top spot in Group A of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.
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The Nigerian champions had stunned the visitors midway through the first half when Stephen Manu unleashed a thunderous long-range strike in the 33rd minute, briefly raising hopes of a morale-boosting result for Rivers United.
However, that proved to be the hosts’ lone moment of joy as Pyramids emerged from the interval with renewed purpose and authority. Their pressure told in the 53rd minute when Mostafa Fathi calmly finished after being teed up by Mostafa Zico to restore parity.
The equaliser swung the momentum firmly in favour of the Egyptian side, who dominated possession and pinned Rivers United deep in their own half.
The turning point arrived in the 77th minute following a defensive lapse that resulted in a handball inside the box. Marwan Hamdi kept his composure from the penalty spot to give Pyramids a deserved lead.
As Rivers United pushed men forward in search of an equaliser, gaps opened at the back and Pyramids punished them clinically.
Substitute Awda Al Fakhoury marked his first goal for the club with a composed finish in the 88th minute, before Nasser Maher wrapped up the emphatic victory deep into stoppage time.
The result lifts Pyramids to 13 points, guaranteeing first place in Group A and confirming their quarter-final berth with a match to spare.
For Rivers United, the defeat leaves them rooted to the bottom of the group on one point and mathematically eliminates them from the competition, bringing their CAF Champions League campaign to a premature end.
