Nigerian champions Rivers United will face Tanzanian side Young Africans (Yanga) in their CAF Confederation Cup (CAFCC) quarter finals first leg match at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo, www.aclsports.com reports.
United were hoping to get approval from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to return to their home base, the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt after significant repair works were carried out on the facility but that has not materialised.
ACLSports sources reveal that the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) top side will have to continue their continental campaign in Uyo, where they played all their group stage games.
FLASH:
Rivers United's first leg quarter final game in the #TotalEnergiesCAFCC against Young Africans of Tanzania (Yanga) will take place at the Nest of Champions in Uyo. The match will hold on Sunday, April 23, 2023.
Details shortly on https://t.co/4k1ef9SwFj pic.twitter.com/qvLMkikLbb
— Fisayo Dairo (@FisayoDairo) April 14, 2023
It was understood that after the initial inspection carried out on the works done on the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, it is expected that CAF would send another contingent to corroborate the findings but it seems there will not be sufficient time to do that before the quarter finals.
While playing in Uyo, Rivers United garnered seven points out of a possible nine to finish second in Group B and earn a place in the knockout round of the competition where they will now face Yanga.
The first leg match will take place at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, also known as the Nest of Champions, Uyo on Sunday, 23rd April, 2023 starting from 2pm local time. South African Referee Abongile Tom has been appointed by CAF to officiate the game.
This is not the first time both teams will face in a CAF continental engagement. In September 2021, Rivers United defeated Yanga home and away in the first preliminary round game of the CAF Champions League. A semi-final ticket for the CAFCC is at stake this time.