Rabat, Rivers United fighting for their lives

by Graeme Jackson

Thursday Jul 06, 2017. 09:30

FUS Rabat and Rivers United will meet in the final round of Group A matches in the CAF Confederation Cup, set for Stade de FUS on Friday night at 21h00 CAT.

Both sides suffered defeats last weekend to cripple their hopes of advancing into the quarterfinals: FUS went down 3-1 away to Uganda’s KCCA, while United were the first team to drop points at home in this group as they lost 2-0 at home to Club Africain.

As a result, they are placed fourth and third on the standing respectively, three points adrift of the top two places and a spot in the last eight of the competition.

Both Rabat and Rivers need to win this match to have any hope of advancing, but even then their fate is out of their hands, as a draw in the group’s other match between co-leaders Africain and KCCA would see them both finish on 10 points - a total neither the Moroccans nor Nigerians can reach.

And even if there is a winner between Africain and KCCA, the victor between Rabat and Rivers won’t necessarily leapfrog into the top two: it will come down to head-to-head between the relevant teams and then possibly goal difference, goals scored, etc.

Given that all but one of the ten matches in this group have produced home wins, FUS Rabat will start as favourites. They will be hoping to at least avenge the narrow 1-0 loss they suffered at the hands of Rivers in Port Harcourt back in May.

The other Group A clash between Club African and KCCA will take place in Rades at the same time as this clash in Rabat. Namibian referee Jackson Pavaza will officiate at Stade de FUS.