RIVERS United earned a slim victory against CAF Confederation Cup holders USM Alger in the first leg of their quarter-final tie in Uyo today.
The Nigerian representatives scored in the first half to secure a 1-0 victory ahead of the second leg in Algiers next week.
Augustine Okejepha fired Rivers United ahead in the 10th minute with a superb strike and they took the advantage into the break.
Rivers United had several more opportunities to stretch their lead at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium and take a comfortable lead to the Algerian cauldron but they were unable to convert any of them.
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.
