In a remarkable turn of events, Dreams FC, the Ghanaian FA Cup champions, secured their maiden quarter-finals appearance in the CAF Confederation Cup, making history along the way. Despite a 2-1 loss to Rivers United in their final group game, the unexpected outcome of a 1-1 draw between Angolan side Academia and Club Africain in Tunisia, propelled Dreams FC into the next round.
Dreams FC and Rivers United finished their group stage campaigns with 12 points each, but it was the draw between Academia and Club Africain that was the game-changer. With this outcome, Club Africain was eliminated with 10 points while Academia finished last with just one point.
The match against Rivers United was a crucial one for Dreams FC. Sitting atop their group with 12 points, they couldn’t afford a heavy loss that could potentially see them eliminated. The effective tactics of coach Karim Zito came into play, and a cautious approach ultimately led to a valuable draw at Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Port Harcourt.
Abdul Aziz Issah, the teenage sensation, made his mark in the 40th minute, putting Dreams FC ahead with an exceptional goal. This away goal gave Dreams FC a crucial advantage and disrupted Rivers United’s plans.
Despite Rivers United managing to level the score in the 61st minute and desperately pressing for more goals, they could only secure a late winner in stoppage time. With the match ending 2-1 in favor of Rivers United, the implications were huge. Had it ended in a draw, both Dreams FC and Club Africain would have moved on to the next stage, leaving Rivers United out of the equation.
This extraordinary achievement by Dreams FC continues to defy expectations, showcasing the depth of talent in Ghanaian football and setting the stage for an exciting journey ahead in the continental tournament.
