Rivers United, Nigeria’s sole representatives in CAF’s inter-club competitions, will discover their group stage opponents on November 3 when the Confederation of African Football (CAF) conducts the group stage draw live at the SuperSport studios in Johannesburg, Bold Sports reports.
The Port Harcourt-based side made history by becoming the first Nigerian club to reach the CAF Champions League group stage since the 2018/19 season, after edging Mozambique’s Black Bulls of Maputo 3–2 on aggregate over two legs.
Meanwhile, Remo Stars fell short of qualification after being thrashed 7–1 on aggregate by South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns, while Abia Warriors and Kwara United exited early in the CAF Confederation Cup preliminary round.
Rivers United have been placed in Pot 3 of the seeding and could face a tough group that may include heavyweights such as Al Ahly, Mamelodi Sundowns, defending champions Pyramids, Al Hilal, or Stade Malien.
The team’s primary goal will be to advance from the group stage to the quarterfinals, keeping alive their dream of becoming the first Nigerian club to win the CAF Champions League since Enyimba’s triumph in 2005.
The 16 teams confirmed for the group stage include Al Ahly, Pyramids, Mamelodi Sundowns, Espérance de Tunis, Simba SC, Al Hilal, and Young Africans.
Others are Petro de Luanda, AS FAR, MC Alger, JS Kabylie, Stade Malien, Power Dynamos, FC Saint-Éloi Lupopo, and the winner of the game between RS Berkane and Al Ahli Tripoli. The game is billed to be played on November 1st.
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