RS Berkane booked their place in the CAF Champions League quarter-finals with a commanding 3-0 victory over Rivers United, inspired by a decisive brace from Paul Valère Bassène.
The Moroccan side confirmed their progression from Group A on Saturday, finishing as runners-up behind Pyramids FC after a composed display on home soil.
Needing a strong performance in the sixth round of fixtures, Renaissance Sportive de Berkane delivered one of their most complete outings of the group stage.
They secured their third win of the campaign with authority, ensuring their place in the knockout phase of Africa’s premier club competition.
The breakthrough came through Youssef Mehri, who opened the scoring to settle any early tension inside the stadium.
With momentum building, Bassène struck just before the interval to double the advantage in the 43rd minute, giving the hosts firm control at 2-0 heading into half-time.
Any hopes of a Rivers United response were swiftly extinguished after the restart.
Bassène required only seven minutes of the second half to complete his brace, extending the lead to 3-0 and effectively sealing the result.
His clinical finishing proved decisive, underlining Berkane’s dominance on the night.
The victory ensures RS Berkane advance to the quarter-finals as second in Group A, continuing their continental journey with confidence.
Their disciplined approach and attacking efficiency proved too much for their opponents, who struggled to cope with the pressure throughout the contest.
For Rivers United FC, the defeat confirmed a disappointing end to their campaign.
They finished bottom of the group, recording five losses and one draw across their six matches.
Despite their efforts, they were unable to register a single win in this year’s competition.
RS Berkane now turn their attention to the knockout stage, having achieved their immediate objective of progressing beyond the group phase.
Their emphatic performance in the final round sends a clear message as they prepare for the challenges ahead.
