CAF: Rivers, Plateau, Kwara handed tricky ties
Following the conclusion of the draws for the CAF competitions, Nigerian clubs have been handed tough fixtures as they hope to make it to the group stages of the continental competitions, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
At a draw conducted on Tuesday in Cairo, the 2022/23 CAF Champions League draw had Nigeria Professional Football League champions, Rivers United, pitted against Liberia's Watanga FC over two legs in the first round of the preliminary stage.
While the Liberian champions are no pushovers, Rivers United are favourites to go through as they hope to make their first appearance in the group stage of the continent's premier club competition.
The Pride of Rivers, as they are fondly called, saw their chances of making it to the group stage of the competition halted last season by Sudan's Al Hilal, having defeated Tanzania's Young Africans on aggregate in the opening round.
An even more difficult challenge awaits the winners of the Rivers versus Watanga FC clash.
The winner of the fixture will meet champions Wydad Athletic Club of Morocco for a place in the group stage.
Nigeria's second representatives, Plateau United, clash with Gabon's AS Mandji in the first round.
If the Jos-based side advance to the second round, they will battle with former winners Esperance du Tunis, for a group stage spot.
As the reigning champions, Wydad are one of six teams given a bye into the second qualifying round of the 2022/23 tournament, billed for October.
Africa's most successful side Al Ahly of Egypt and 2016 African champions Mamelodi Sundowns from South Africa also go straight into the second round.
The other teams who skipped the first round are Tunisia's Esperance, who are four-time winners, DR Congo's TP Mazembe and three-time champions Raja Casablanca of Morocco.
Kwara United will face Niger's AS Douanes in the second round of qualifying of CAF's second-tier club competition Confederation Cup.
The Nigerians host the first leg between September 9 and 11, while the second leg will hold between September 16 and 18.
A win for the Ilorin-based club also pits them against a very tough opposition in the form of holders RS Berkane of Morocco for a place in the group stage.
Five other clubs were also given byes, including three-time champions CS Sfaxien of Tunisia and Tanzania's Azam FC.
Cloud Tag: What's trending
Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.
Igbomina Shuaib Boni Aliyu Abdulraheem Olesin Kwara State Health Insurance Agency Saraki Yunus Lawal Yusuf Ibitokun Sherifat Rafiu Ibrahim Kwara United Afolabi-Oshatimehin Bureau Of Lands Yusuf Olaolu Ali Forgo Battery Unilorin FM Joseph Alex Offorjama Hakeem Idris Iyabo Dupe Adekeye CACOVID Kayode Bankole Maimunat Oniyangi Kwara State Government Public Holiday Oluwarotimi Boluwatife Adenike Ayegbeni Pakata Patriots Tunde Yusuf Amos Sayo Tunde Kazeem Abdulrahman Onikijipa COVID Zainab Abass PAACO-PCL Consortium Plat Technologies Erubu Oba Of Jebba Aliyu Muhammad Saifudeen Olaosebikan Kola Bukoye Wole Oke Taofeeq Olateju Damilola Yusuf Adelodun Olumide Daniel Ibitoye Ojo Isekuse IQRA College Abdulmalik Bashir Mopelola Risikatullahi Ogidi-Oloje Umar Bayo Abdulwahab Muhammad Fawaz Abubakar Umar Ayinla Saro Col. Taiwo Turaki Tosin Saraki Ashiru CCT Isiaka Gold Temi Kolawole Abdulmumini AbdulRazaq Emir Of Lafiagi Ramat Oganija Medinat Folorunsho Salman Yusuf A. Usman Mohammed Halidu Senior Staff Union Of Colleges Of Education Olatunji Moronfoye Wahab Issa Balogun-Ojomu Oba-Solagberu Sulyman Age AbdulKareem Na\'Allah Share-Tsaragi Muhammadu Gobir General Tunde Idiagbon International Airport Ilorin Abubakar Olusola Saraki Ilesha-Gwanara Offa Metropolitan Club Ilorin Metro Park Fola Consultant

