Rivers United campaign in the CAF Champions League was brought to an end by a rampant Al-Merriekh side who thrashed them 4-0 to dump them out on a 3-4 aggregate score.
Al-Merriekh were beaten 3-0 by the Nigerians in Porthacourt last weekend, but they overturned the scoreline with a rampant display which left the Nigerians shell shocked.
The Stanley Eguma lead lad got off to a worst possible start by conceding two goals in the opening 25 minutes of the game, and even ended the half losing 3-0.
Bakri Almadina scored a first half hattrick with the last of his three goals coming via the spot late into the first half, as Rivers United struggled to cope with the vociferous atmosphere at the stadium.
Al-Merriekh got the all important goal which sealed their passage to the group stage after the hour mark to send the Nigerians out of the tournament on a 4-3 aggregate score.
Rivers United will now drop to the CAF Confederations Cup, CAF second tier championship which has already claimed Nigerian side FC Ifeanyi Uba and Wikki Tourist this season.
* Mark Stephen
