Can NPFL Dominate CAF Competitions Again?

Can NPFL Dominate CAF Competitions Again?

The Nigeria Premier Football League defending champions Rivers United qualified for the knockout stages at the CAF Confederations Cup after finishing second in Group B behind ASEC Mimosa of Ivory Coast in first reports BSNSports.com.ng.

The Pride of Rivers suffered a three-nil thrashing at the legs of Diables Noirs of the Republic of Congo in February, before transferring the aggression in like manner to ASEC Mimosas from Ivory Coast in the second game for a three-nil win. 

Rivers then went unbeaten in three subsequent games to Motema Pembe of DR Congo home and away, plus the two-all draw against Diables Noirs of Congo, before tasting another defeat to ASEC Mimosas away from home.

Stanley Eguma was elated at the progression shown by his team and would hope to maintain momentum going into the knockout stages.

The last time a Nigerian club got to the final of any CAF competition was when Heartland faced off with TP Mazembe of DR Congo in 2009, losing only on the away goal rule after playing two-all on aggregate in the Champions League.

Before then, Enyimba FC of Aba won the same competition back to back in 2003 and 2004 against Ismaily of Egypt and Étoile du Sahel of Tunisia respectively, making it two decades since the last win, and over a decade since the last final reach.

This term, Rivers United hope to restore past glory by going the distance with teams like South Africa’s Marumo Gallants, Pyramids of Egypt, and Morocco’s ASFAR Rabat all still in the mix.

In the CAF Confederation Cup, only Dolphins FC made the final, when they were defeated three-one by ASFAR Rabat on aggregate in 2005. Rivers United will have to conjure their inner mojo to make history thrive in favor of Nigeria once again in CAF Competitions.