Rivers United head coach Stanley Eguma says his side are in Congo for serious business and hopes to lead the Pride of Rivers to the knockout stages of this season’s CAF Confederation Cup (CAFCC), which gets underway on Sunday.
Speaking from the team’s base in Brazzaville on Saturday, Eguma insists his side are not under pressure but are in the competition to give their best and progress from a difficult group.
Rivers United face Congolese side Diables Noirs on Sunday, for their CAF Confederation Cup group stage opener, while ASEC Mimosas will host Motema Pembe in the other group’s game.
“”For this competition, I am aware it is a CAFCC and the fixtures have been made and we are playing away from home first. So, we starting away is also good for us, it doesn’t matter,” began the veteran gaffer.
“We know them by their name and we have followed them in the past; they are perennial participants in this competition. We do not know much about them presently, but I know that the fact that they have been in the competition in the past all the time, we see them as a very strong side.
The Rivers State born tactician believes his side are the underdogs of the group but insists they are not a weak side.
“We are the only underdog in the group, but we are not a weak side. We have come here for business/purpose, so we are not under any pressure to play. Our ambition is to qualify from the group irrespective of whoever is our opponent,” he added.
Rivers United will be looking to start on a strong note ahead of the big clash against ASEC Mimosas on match day two in Uyo next weekend.
Sunday’s game billed for the Alphonse Massamba-Debat Stadium, Stade Marchand is expected to kick off at 5pm (Nigerian time).
