Nigeria’s representatives in CAF inter club competitions are warming up again to trade tackles as the 2022-23 season begin on the continent this weekend. Tunde Liadi writes.
FOUR Nigerian teams namely Rivers United, Plateau United, Remo Stars and Kwara United will hope to do well in the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup with the ultimate target of winning one of the coveted trophies and also improving Nigeria’s rating on the continent.
Nigeria is on the cusp of losing two of the four slots allotted it on the continent based on current ratings just like it was in 2018-19 season when the country had one representative each in the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup.
Enyimba’s qualification for the semi-final in the 2018 season and Lobi Stars and Enugu Rangers inroads to the group stage of both competitions in the 2018-19 season helped restored Nigeria’s remaining two slots.
After that feat of 2018-19 season when the nation had two teams in the group stage of both competitions for the first in seven years, it has been mostly free fall for the country’s flag bearers.
It should be noted that in 2011 Sunshine Stars and Kaduna United got to the CAF Confederation Cup group stage and Enyimba in the CAF Champions League.
Sunshine and Enyimba later qualified for the semi-finals of both competitions before they exited to Club Africain (Tunisia) and Wydad Casablanca (Morocco) respectively.
Meanwhile, Akwa United crashed out at the first hurdle to Algerian side, CR Belouizdad in the CAF Champions League last season, ditto Rivers United was eliminated in the second round by Sudanese giants, Al Hilal.
The Pride of Rivers got a second chance in the playoffs round of the CAF Confederation Cup but were beaten by the away goals rule by the Egyptian side, Pyramids after a 2-2 aggregate scores over both legs.
Also last season in the CAF Confederation Cup, Bayelsa United lost to Tunisian CS Sfaxien 4-1 on aggregate in the second round while the second flagbearer, Enyimba was walked over by Libyan team, Al Ittihad after the People’s Elephant failed to show up in Tripoli for the reverse fixture, despite holding a 2-0 first leg advantage.
This term, the four Nigeria’s representatives cannot, therefore, afford to lower their guard.
Plateau United goalkeeper, Suraj Ayeleso told NationSport that the Peace Boys are going to Libreville with their sight on recording a good result against ASO Stade Mandji of Gabon today.
“We are on our way to Gabon with the resolve to give a good account of ourselves in Libreville. We know a little about them and have been working on this,” Ayeleso told NationSport.
Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) last season’s highest scorer, Chijioke Akuneto, is convinced Rivers United would go far in the CAF Champions League.
Last season, Rivers United began in the Champions League before they were eliminated by Al Hilal of Sudan in the second round. They didn’t fare any better in the playoffs round of the CAF Confederation Cup but Akuneto is confident that the Pride of Rivers will go far this season with the changes at the club, the quality of players brought in and the build up they have had to the start of the competition.
“We are up against Watanga FC of Liberia on Sunday and it is a game we have planned to win well at home to make the return leg in Monrovia a formality,” Akuneto explained.
Meanwhile, Kwara United goalie, Dele Aiyenugba has warned his teammates to be wary of Nigerien club, AS Douanes whom they face in the CAF Confederation Cup first round, first leg tie this weekend at the Mobolaji Johnson Stadium in Lagos.
Aiyenugba insisted that Niger Republic qualification for the CHAN says a lot about their league and the quality of the teams there as he urged his teammates not to underrate AS Douanes.
“I can only say that we have the game of our lives against AS Douanes this weekend. The warning sign is there which we cannot ignore. Niger Republic will be going for their fourth tournament in Algeria next year. Nigeria will not be going,” Aiyenugba disclosed. “We don’t know too much about them and it should make us to be worried and not think that they are going to fall easily. We must do our work and take our chances too.”