Nigeria’s Rivers United have suffered a humiliating 4-1 defeat at the hands of Egyptian giants Pyramids FC, surrendering their grip on the CAF Champions League group stage in Uyo.

What began as a promising campaign has unravelled in spectacular fashion. The Pride of Rivers, playing on home soil at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, needed a disciplined performance to stay in contention for the group’s summit. Instead, they capitulated under the tactical superiority of the Egyptians, exposing deep defensive frailties that have left their quarter-final hopes hanging by a thread.

A Tale of Two Halves

The match started with deceptive optimism as Stephen Manu fired Rivers United ahead in the 33rd minute with a thunderous long-range strike. However, the lead proved to be a mirage. Pyramids FC emerged from the halftime break with renewed venom, dismantling the Nigerian defense with surgical precision.

• The Turning Point: Mostafa Fathi leveled the score in the 53rd minute, silencing the home crowd and shifting the momentum irreversibly.
• The Collapse: A penalty converted by Marwan Hamdi in the 77th minute opened the floodgates, followed by late strikes from Awda Al-Fakhoury and Nasser Maher in stoppage time.

Pyramids Assert Dominance

With this victory, Pyramids FC have amassed 13 points, effectively sealing their qualification and top spot in the group. Their performance was a masterclass in game management—absorbing pressure early on and ruthlessly exploiting space as their opponents tired. For Rivers United, the result is a harsh reality check on the gap between domestic success and continental excellence.

"We lost our shape and our heads," a dejected Rivers United official admitted post-match. As Pyramids look ahead to the knockout stages, Rivers United must now answer difficult questions about their mental fortitude on Africa's biggest stage.