RS Berkane confirmed their place in the CAF Champions League quarter-finals after a commanding 3‑0 victory over Nigeria’s Rivers United on Saturday. The win, secured in the final group stage match at the Stade Municipal de Berkane, ensures the Moroccan side progresses to the knockout phase alongside Pyramids FC, who topped the group.
This victory was the perfect finish to a great run in the groups, with Berkane locking in second place and 10 points.
7/8 ✅
RS Berkane, the debutants, reach their first-ever #TotalEnergiesCAFCL quarter-final. 🇲🇦🍊 pic.twitter.com/yJmlCTSFLP
— TotalEnergies CAFCL & CAFCC 🏆 (@CAFCLCC) February 14, 2026
A solid performance
Berkane controlled the game from start to finish, managing possession well and putting constant pressure on Rivers United, who struggled to create chances. Mehri’s opener in the 38th minute and Bassène’s clinical finishes (43rd and 53rd minutes) left the Nigerian side with no realistic path to a comeback. Rivers United finished bottom of the group with just one point.
Head coach Moein Chaabani praised his team for their focus and discipline.
“Praise be to God, we have achieved the goal we set since the beginning of the season, which was to first qualify from the group stage and then reach the quarter-finals. Naturally, qualification was not easy if we look at the path we have taken,” he said.
“The journey we’ve had was not simple, especially with strong competition in our group and other groups. Before the final matchday, nothing was decided, and several clubs were contenders until the last moments, which underscores the difficulty of the competition.”
Rivers United coach Finidi George acknowledged the disappointment of elimination but said that the experience will help his team grow for future CAF campaigns.
With the group stage complete, attention now turns to the CAF Champions League quarter-final draw, which is scheduled to take place next Tuesday at 12 PM GMT in CAF headquarters in Egypt.
Berkane’s strong home form and consistent performances throughout the group stage have set them up well for the knockout phase, joining other quarter-finalists such as Al Ahly, Mamelodi Sundowns, Esperance de Tunis, and Stade Malien, making for an exciting and competitive last-eight lineup.
