The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has appointed a team of Libyan referees to manage the upcoming Champions League encounter between Nigeria’s Rivers United and Moroccan side RS Berkane. Moataz Al-Shalmani, an experienced FIFA-badged referee, will take charge of the proceedings as the primary official. He will receive support from his fellow countrymen, Mohamed Mangi and Bassem Saif Al-Nasr, who will serve as the first and second assistant referees, respectively, while Al-Mabrouk Mohamed assumes the role of fourth official.
The fixture serves as a formal conclusion to a difficult continental journey for the Port Harcourt-based club. Rivers United has already suffered elimination from the tournament following a string of disappointing results in the group stage. The “Pride of Rivers” struggled to find their footing against Africa’s elite, culminating in a heavy 4-1 defeat at the hands of the current title holders, Pyramids FC, during their most recent match.
Finidi George’s squad traveled to the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium last weekend hoping for a revival, but the Egyptian giants proved too clinical. Despite an early lead provided by Stephen Manyo, a second-half collapse saw Pyramids score four times to extinguish Nigeria’s remaining hopes in the competition. This result leaves Rivers United at the bottom of the table, turning their trip to Morocco into a battle for pride rather than qualification.
As the team prepares for this final Group A engagement, the coaching staff views the match as an opportunity to test tactical adjustments and blood younger talent on the international stage. RS Berkane, conversely, enters the game with significant stakes, as they continue to jostle for a favorable seeding in the knockout rounds. The Libyan officiating crew will ensure the high-intensity clash remains within the spirit of the game as the curtains fall on Rivers United’s 2026 Champions League campaign.
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