By Onyekachi Chimezie
Following spirited performances against North African opponents in Nigeria on Sunday, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, President of the Nigerian Football Federation, has challenged Rivers United, Plateau United, and Kwara United to ensure progression into the group stages of the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup, respectively.
At the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos, Confederation Cup contenders Kwara United defeated Cup holders RS Berkane of Morocco 3-1. All three clubs overcame deficits to win their games. In the CAF Champions League, Plateau United and Rivers United defeated Wydad Casablanca of Morocco and Espérance of Tunisia, respectively, by a score of 2-1 in Abuja and Port Harcourt.
“Our teams have done well in the first leg matches, but I want them to go all out in the return games because North African playgrounds are usually difficult ones for most teams. They excellently showed the Nigerian spirit to come from behind and win their matches at home, but they will need to show this spirit in an even more pronounced manner in the second-leg matches.
“The NFF is backing all three teams to reach the lucrative group stages of their competitions,” said Gusau who, in company with Plateau State Governor, Rt. Hon. Simon Lalong and Youth and Sports Minister, Hon. Sunday Dare watched Plateau United come from a goal down to defeat the Blood and Gold at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja. Both teams meet in Tunis next week.
Kwara United fell behind Cup holders RS Berkane early on in Lagos, but they roared back in the second half at the venue once known as Onikan waterfront.
NPFL Champions Rivers United played manfully against one of the most experienced teams when it comes to African club football and got a narrow win that could be the difference when both teams meet again at the Mohamed V Stadium in Casablanca next week with a draw for Rivers United enough to take them into the group stage.
