Power Dynamos and Rivers United collected their first points of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League group stage after a cautious goalless draw at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola on Saturday.
The result leaves both sides anchored to the foot of Group A at the halfway stage, with qualification hopes hanging by a thread after each had lost their opening two fixtures.
With pressure mounting on both camps, the contest was played with urgency but little invention, as neither team found the quality required to break the deadlock.
Power Dynamos, urged on by home support, began with greater purpose and looked to stretch Rivers United through quick transitions and early balls into wide areas. The Zambian side saw more of the ball in the opening exchanges but struggled to turn possession into clear chances.
Rivers United remained organised and disciplined, closing spaces effectively and disrupting the tempo whenever the hosts threatened to build momentum. The Nigerian club grew into the contest as the first half progressed and enjoyed periods of controlled possession, though their build-up play lacked a decisive final pass.
Goalmouth action was limited before the interval, with both goalkeepers largely untested as speculative efforts were either blocked or missed the target.
The pattern remained unchanged after the restart. Power Dynamos pressed forward in search of a much-needed victory, while Rivers United looked to capitalise on counter-attacking opportunities as spaces opened up.
Clear-cut chances remained rare, and as the match entered its final stages, caution took precedence over risk, with both sides wary of suffering a third consecutive defeat.
The final whistle confirmed a share of the spoils, leaving both clubs on one point from three matches. While progression remains mathematically possible, the margin for error has all but disappeared.
Attention at the top of Group A now shifts to a decisive encounter later in the matchday, as RS Berkane host Pyramids FC in a meeting between the two teams level on six points. With the group finely balanced, that clash could play a defining role in the race for the quarter-finals.
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