Nigeria’s four teams campaigning in the 2018 CAF Confederation Cup were kept apart in Wednesday’s draw for the final playoff round preceding the group stage of the competition but were handed difficult opponents.
In the draws conducted in Cairo, Egypt, former African champions Enyimba were handed a tie against South African league champions Bidvest Wits with the South Africans hosting the first leg.
Nigeria’s Cup champions Akwa United got a tougher draw against Sudanese giants Al Hilal. United eliminated Libya’s Al Ittihad Tripoli in the last round while the Sudan League champions, Hilal crashed out of the Champions League after losing to Togolese champions AS Togo-Port on away goals rule.
Nigerian league champions Plateau United whose failure to get an additional goal against Etoile du Sahel on Sunday saw them drop to the Confederation Cup were drawn against famous Algerian side USM Alger.
Nigeria’s other Champions League side, MFM FC; fresh from their 6-0 demolition by Algerians MC Alger were returned to Mali for their playoff game. The Church Boys from Lagos eliminated AS Real Bamako of Mali in the preliminary round of the Champions League but will now face Djoilba in their first ever Confederation Cup game.
Both Plateau United and MFM will play at home first on the weekend of April 7 before traveling to Algiers and Bamako respectively for their second leg fixtures ten days later.
The duo of Enyimba and Akwa United have the benefit of hosting their second leg games on home soil. Enyimba will travel to the Bidvest Stadium in Johannesburg for their first leg match on the weekend of April 7, same time Akwa United face Al Hilal in Khartoum for their first leg fixture.
Winners of this round will progress to the expanded group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup.
