Nigerian clubs target next round in CAF competitions
By Tosin Omojola –
Nigeria’s flagbearers in both the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup will be on duty at various venues today as they seek progress in the competitions.
It is a crucial day for the trio of Abia Warriors, Kwara United, and Rivers United, who will all face their foes in the second leg of their campaigns.
Abia Warriors of Umuahia have a mountain to climb as they face Malian side Djoliba FC this Sunday in Bamako, in a CAF Confederation Cup second-leg match.
In the first leg in Uyo, Abia Warriors conceded a late equaliser, ending the tie 1-1, a result that puts the team in a tight situation going into today’s second leg. To scale through, the Nigerians must avoid defeat in Bamako.
In Abeokuta, Kwara United will battle to overturn the first-leg defeat suffered in Accra against Asante Kotoko, who edged the Ilorin-based side 4-3 last Sunday.
The Harmony Boys need at least a lone-goal victory to eliminate the Ghanaians, who need just a draw to advance in this CAF Confederation Cup contest.
In the CAF Champions League, Rivers United, having forced their opponents, Les Aigles du Congo, to a goalless draw in Kinshasa last Sunday, will aim for a win this afternoon at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo to progress.
Rivers United will be spurred by the fact that Nigeria’s other representative in the competition, Remo Stars, are already through to the next round after their comprehensive 5-0 aggregate win over US Zilimadjou of Comoros.
