A gutsy second-half performance proved insufficient as Rivers United succumbed 3-1 to Club Africain in their opening game of the CAF Confederation Cup group phase.
Brimming with hope and expectation as they departed for their first dip in continental group phase waters, the Nigerian club looked nowhere near contenders as they endured a dismal first half, allowing the Tunisians take a deserved 2-0 lead into the break.
Ifa Bilal opened the scoring, rising highest to head home from a corner kick. Within minutes, Oussama Darragi converted a penalty on the stroke of half time to extend the hosts' advantage.
A much improved United fizzed out of the blocks at the restart and were duly rewarded when new boy John Odumegwu struck a precise effort into the far corner from the edge of the penalty area.
Those efforts were undone when, against the run of play, Joseph Douhadji turned the ball into his own net to restore Club Africain's two-goal cushion.
Matters were to get even worse of the Nigerians when Emeka Ogbugh missed a penalty that could have hauled them back in with just over 11 minutes remaining.
In the end, the Tunisians were happy to close out for a crucial opening day win.
Rivers United coach Stanley Eguma admitted that his wards were undermined by a shabby first half display
"We did not find our feet in the first half and conceded two goals," Eguma said at the post match press conference.
"In the second half, we corrected our mistakes and scored a goal. We got a penalty and if we had converted it, it would have made a lot of difference as my boys would have pushed for the equalizer," he said.
It was a sentiment shared by Club Africain coach Chibeb Ellili
"Rivers United was fresher than us in the second half because I had four players who had not played for a long time in the team.
"The fitness was not there in the second half. Also, Rivers United had nothing to lose in the second half and they have a lot of fast players with and without the ball," he said.
The defeat leaves United in third place in Group A while Club Africain are in second, trailing leaders, FUS Rabat on goals difference.
Ugandan club KCCA are bottom. Rivers United will next meet FUS Rabat in Port Harcourt on May 24.
Teams
Club Africain: Bilel Iffa, Ahmed Khalil, Matthew Rosicky , Oussama Darragi, Nader Ghandri, Ali Abdi, Mokhtar Belkhiter, Ibrahim Chenihi, Fakhreddine Jaziri and Saber Khalifa.
Substitutes: Imed Miniaoui, Mannoubi Haded, Wissam Ben Yahia, Atef Dkhili, Slimen Kchouk, Ghazi Ayadi, Seif Touka.
Rivers United: Sunday Rotimi, Nzube Anaezemba, Joseph Douhadji, Ayobami Asekunowo, Ayo Saka, Bolaji Sakin, Emeka Atuloma, Doumbia Zoumana, Emeka Ogbugh , John Odumegwu and Markson Ojobo.
Substitutes: Femi Thomas, Guy Kuemian, Gabriel Wassa, Obomate Frederick, Onoriode Odah, Maduabuchi Okereke, Shadrach Francis.