Rivers United needed to win at a rocking Stade du FUS (Hay Nahda, Rabat) but started on the back foot with the Moroccan club pushing and probing in search of an early goal.
They almost got it in the fourth minute when Youssef El Gnaoui forced a brilliant save off the Rivers United goalkeeper, Abiodun Akande who would go on to have a barnstorming game.
Three minutes later, United were reeling again as Akande evoked memories of former Colombia international maverick goalkeeper, Rene Higuita by heading away a dangerous free kick.
FUS continued to dominate but profligacy coupled with Akande in inspired form, kept the former Botola Pro champions at bay.
There is a maxim in football which buttresses a point about paying the price when you fail to convert numerous opportunities and it was ruthlessly displayed when United scored with their first real opening of the game.
Nweke’s opportunistic cross into the FUS box was flapped at by goalkeeper, Aymane Majid and the loose ball fell towards the path of Bolaji Sakin.
The attacking midfielder could not believe his luck as he calmly took aim and directed the ball down the middle between two FUS defenders to give the ‘Pride of Rivers’ a fortuitous lead.
It was a horrible time to concede but to their credit, FUS did not panic; they stayed true to their ideals and philosophy; playing their passing game which soon led to ultimate punishment for the Port Harcourt club in a high octane second half.
El Gnaoui tapped into an unguarded net from close range in the 52nd minute following good work by El Mehdi El Bassil after Bernard Ovoke unsuccessfully tried to dribble his way from the back.
The Moroccans struck the final nail into the Rivers United coffin with just two minutes remaining on the clock when Mohamed Fouzair converted a penalty – ala Panenka- after Festus Austine needlessly handled the ball in the box.
It was a richly deserved victory for the Moroccans who dominated and were denied on two occasions by goal line clearances from Nweke and Joseph Douhadji.
The Rivers United goalkeeper, Abiodun Akande was his side’s best performer on the day as he produced a series of top class save to help keep the eventual result respectable.
Rivers United finished bottom of Group A with six points from six matches while KCCA finished in third place with nine points after losing 0-4 in Tunis to the eventual table-toppers, Club Africain.
United and KCCA thus crash out of the competition at the group stage while the two North African clubs march on.
FUS Rabat qualified for the quarter-finals after finishing in second place with nine points from six matches.
Line-ups
FUS Rabat: Aymane Majid, Mehdi Khalis, Saad Khorsa (Hamza Semmoumy 74’), Naif Aguerd, Ayoub Skouma, Mohammed Fouzair, Badr Boulhroud, Lamina Diakite, Zakaria Benlamachi, El Mehdi El Bassil and Youssouf El Gnaoui (Mohammed Saoud 86’)
Substitutes not used: Ibourahima Sidibe and Younes Ezziadi
Rivers United: Abiodun Akande, Festus Austine, Douhadji Joseph, Ifeanyi Nweke, Ovoke Bernard (Guy Kuemian 90), Saka Ayo (Egbuonu Odumegwu 66’), Bolaji Sakin (Wassa Gabriel 81’), Zoumana Doumbia Lukman Mohammed Alliassou Sanou and Ojobo Markson
Substitutes not used: Femi Thomas, Ayobami Asekunowo and Obomate Frederick
Yellow cards: Zoumana Doumbia (59’) and Abiodun Akande (87’)