Saturday

CAF Confed. CupPlayoff round: Second legRayon Sports 0-0 Rivers United (Agg. 0-2)

Rayon Sport have been knocked out of this year’s CAF Confederation Cup by Nigeria’s Rivers United after being held to a goalless draw in the playoff round second leg played on Saturday at Amahoro National Stadium.

The Rwanda Peace Cup champions had lost 2-0 in the first played last weekend in Port Harcourt. Rivers United ended the match with 10 players after their captain Nweke Ifeanyi was sent off in the 56th minute for a horrible challenge on Dominique Savio Nshuti.

Rayon Sports were looking to become the first Rwandan side ever to reach the group of CAF’s second biggest club competition but they will have to wait another year.

As expected Rayon Sport began the game dominant fashion searching for an early goal, however; Rivers United defense denied them any chance of penetration.

Rayon’s first clear cut chance came in the 27th minute after Malian striker Tidiane Kone was fouled about 25 yards out of the box. Pierrot Kwizera curled in a perfect ball that went begging as no Rayon player made any contact.

Three minutes later, Djuma Masudi’s side got another chance through a corner that was taken by Nshuti however United goalkeeper Sunday Rotimi rose highest to punch the ball away.

The Nigerian outfit was relying on counter attacks and looked confident whenever in possession of the ball and at the stroke of half time they came close to taking the lead after striker Bolaji Sakin found himself left with goalie Eric ‘Bakame’ Ndayishimiye but his shot went above the cross bar.

Masudi made a double substitution at the start of the second half with left back Eric Irambona replacing Tidiane while midfielder Olivier Sefu Niyonzima came on for Francois Mugisha.