Nigeria representatives in this season’s CAF Champions League; Rivers United and Plateau United are through to the difficult stage of the competition after contrasting 1-0 results on Sunday.
Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) champions Rivers United took a 3-0 first leg advantage to Monrovia against Liberian champions Watanga FC.
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Watanga 1-0 Rivers United
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Job done in Liberia! ✔️ #TotalEnergiesCAFCL #WATRIV
— Rivers United FC (@RiversUnitedFC) September 18, 2022
Watanga however won the second leg 1-0 at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Stadium courtesy of Faserdu Logan’s controversial 16th minute penalty. The spot kick was a reward for a bright start by the hosts but their performance soon faded off with the Nigerians dominating the second half of the game.
Rivers United will now face defending champions Wydad Athletic Club (WAC) de Casablanca in the next round with the winner over two legs going through to the group stage of the competition.
Also through to the next stage are Plateau United who just like Rivers will face a very difficult proposition in the next round.
Playing at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, Plateau edged Gabonese champions ASO Stade Mandji 1-0 courtesy of Haggai Katoh’s finish to Daniel Itodo’s long throw in the second half
United thus qualify 3-2 on aggregate after the first leg ended 2-2 in Franceville. Reward for the 2017 Nigerian champions is a difficult date with former champions Esperance Sportive du Tunis of Tunisia.
First leg matches in the next round will hold on the weekend of October 9 with both Nigerian clubs playing their first leg games at home before negotiating difficult second leg trips for the second leg.
Fisayo Dairo, in Monrovia
