CAF Champions League: FC Les Aigles du Congo held to goalless draw by Rivers United in Kinshasa

FC Les Aigles du Congo were left frustrated on Saturday after being held to a 0-0 draw by Nigeria’s Rivers United in the first leg of the CAF Champions League preliminary round at the Martyrs Stadium in Kinshasa.

The Congolese side, making their debut in this season’s continental competition, had hoped to make a strong impression in front of their home supporters.

Instead, they endured a tightly contested match where clear-cut chances were scarce, and both teams struggled to impose themselves in the final third.

Despite failing to find the back of the net, Les Aigles managed to achieve one crucial objective: keeping a clean sheet. In the context of a two-legged tie, avoiding an away goal could prove valuable when they travel to Nigeria for the decisive return fixture.

The game highlighted the resilience of Rivers United, who demonstrated their experience and composure on foreign soil.

The Nigerian side, well accustomed to difficult away trips across Africa, executed a disciplined performance designed to frustrate their hosts and leave the tie finely balanced heading into the second leg.

Throughout the encounter, the Congolese team found themselves thwarted by Rivers United’s defensive organisation. While they enjoyed periods of possession, they struggled to create sustained pressure or test the Nigerian goalkeeper with enough regularity.

On the other side, Rivers United threatened sporadically, with their forward line showing glimpses of danger, though they too failed to find the finishing touch.

For Les Aigles, the result was met with disappointment, as the expectation was to secure a first-leg advantage on home soil. The club, nicknamed “the Samurai,” will now face the difficult challenge of needing an away victory in Nigeria to progress to the second round of Africa’s most prestigious club competition.

The coaching staff emphasised the importance of regrouping quickly, reminding players that the tie remains open despite the setback. The message is clear: while the goalless draw leaves little margin for error, the opportunity to qualify remains within their grasp if they can show greater efficiency and determination in the return leg.

Rivers United, meanwhile, will return home confident, knowing they have denied their opponents an advantage and can now play in front of their own supporters with the tie firmly in their control. Their experience in navigating high-stakes continental fixtures could yet prove decisive.

The second leg is scheduled to take place in Nigeria in one week’s time, where FC Les Aigles du Congo will need a decisive performance to keep their Champions League campaign alive.

Anything less than a victory would see them eliminated at the first hurdle, while Rivers United stand on the brink of advancing to the next stage.

In the balance after a cagey first meeting, the clash promises to deliver high tension and drama when the two sides meet again in Nigeria.