CAF CC draw: Rivers United are in tough group, Eguma admits

Rivers United’s technical manager, Stanley Eguma has described the club’s draw in the group stage of the 2017 CAF Confederation Cup as tough. United, the only Nigerian club still in the running in inter-CAF club competition this year, is in Group A long FUS Rabat (Morocco), Club Africain (Tunisia) and KCAA (Uganda).

It has already been branded ‘the Group of death’ by bookmakers and Eguma is under no illusions how difficult it will be to progress from the section and into the quarter final.

“I must say it is a very tough group with two North African clubs from Morocco and Tunisia but we are confident of qualifying for the quarterfinals. 

“We must also not overlook or underrate (Ugandan club), KCAA who have also earned a right to be here. 

“Now, we must work hard, study our opponents and try to do Nigeria proud,” he told our website, www.riversunitedfc.com.ng shortly after the draw.

On his part, assistant captain of Rivers United, Sunday Rotimi explained that United must be ‘ready to beat the big sides’ if they are to earn respect on the continent.

“It is an interesting group. If you want to be a champion, you have to be ready to beat the big sides.  It is a big task but we are ready for the task at hand.  We do not just want to qualify for the quarter final of the competition. Our ambition is to make history by becoming the first Nigerian club to win the Caf Confederation Cup and we are working hard to actualize that,” he said.

Club captain, Festus Austine also took the time to discuss United’s group opponents.

“I expected us to be in a tough group because there are no small sides in the CAF Champions League or the CAF Confederation Cup.

“The players know what is at stake; we will work hard and try to top the group.

“We want to win the title and to do that, we have to make a point by topping our group,” he said.

Caf Confederation Cup draw 

Group A 

FUS Rabat (Morocco) 

Club Africain (Tunisia) 

Rivers United (Nigeria) 

KCAA (Uganda) 

Group B 

CS Sfaxien (Tunisia) 

Platinum Stars (South Africa) 

MC Alger (Algeria) 

Mbabane Swallows (Swaziland) 

Group C 

Zesco United (Zambia) 

Recreativo do Libolo (Angola) 

Al-Hilal Al-Ubayyid (Sudan) 

Smouha (Egypt) 

Group D 

TP Mazembe (Congo DR) 

SuperSport United (South Africa) 

Horoya AC (Guinea) 

CF Mounana (Gabon)