Rivers United suffered a narrow 1–0 defeat to Black Bulls of Mozambique in the first leg of their CAF Champions League second-round preliminary tie on Saturday.

The Nigerian representatives dominated possession for much of the first half at the Lalgy Arena in Matola, Maputo, but failed to make it count. Their best chances came through Maclyn Biokpo, whose goal was ruled offside, and Friday Ubong, who fired over the bar after a promising move.

Five minutes into the second half, the hosts capitalised on slack defending to break the deadlock. The goal swung momentum in favour of the Mozambican champions, who pressed further and forced Rivers United goalkeeper Osagie Onisodumeya into a superb save to prevent a second.

Finidi George’s men, still reeling from their Nigeria Premier Football League loss to Bayelsa United earlier in the week, struggled to find rhythm in attack. Anthony Omaka’s close-range effort was blocked, while Boluwaji Sholumade’s late header went wide as the visitors pushed for an equaliser.

The result leaves Rivers United with all to do in the return leg next Sunday at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, where they must overturn the deficit to reach the lucrative group stage of the competition.