CAFCL/CAFCC: Nigerian clubs in difficult routes to group stage

The quest by Nigerian clubs to reach the group stage of the 2022/2023 CAF InterClub competitions was made harder on Tuesday when all four clubs were handed difficult routes to the money spinning stages.

In the draws for next season’s competitions held in Arusha, Tanzania, the quartet of Rivers United, Plateau United (Champions League) and Remo Stars, Kwara United (Confederation Cup) were handed tough looking schedules.

While Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) champions Rivers United were handed a seemingly easy task in the preliminary round against Liberian champions Watanga FC, their uphill task lies in the prospect of facing defending champions Wydad Casablanca of Morocco in the penultimate round before the group stage.

Nigeria’s other representatives in the Champions League, Plateau United were drawn against Gabonese champions AS Stade Mandji in the preliminary round. Should the Peace Boys progress, Tunisian giants Esperance Sportive du Tunis lie in wait for them in the penultimate round before the group stage.

In the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup, Remo Stars will have their work well cut out as they were handed an awkward looking fixture against AS FAR of Morocco in the preliminary round. Should they upset the Moroccans, the privately owned Remo Stars will face the winner of the tie between AAGBS of Guinea and Nouakchott CS of Mauritania.

Nigeria’s second representative in the Confederation Cup, Kwara United who seemingly entered through the backdoor will face AS Douanes of Niger in their preliminary round clash before confronting defending champions RS Berkane in the next round.

The first leg encounters for the preliminary round will take place on the weekend of September 9 while the return leg will hold a week later.

Should no Nigerian side reach the group stage of any of the competitions, the country stands a risk of having its representative slots reduced from four to two for the next couple of seasons.