This may be only the quarter final stage of the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation’s Cup League but, for Coach Stanley Eguma, Young Africans are very much beatable
Rivers United have spent the last four seasons hosting Africa’s elite. In that time they have rattled up some famous wins at home. Victories against AS Bamako, Al-Merrikh, Wydad AC, Al-Nasr, Motema Pembe and ASEC Mimosa represent arguably the Club’s finest moments on the Continent.
In the build-up to Sunday’s 1st leg tie at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, Eguma admits he is expecting to face a different side from the team he led to victory home and away in 2021 and it is an entirely understandable view.
Young Africans were beaten at their own game on their own surface 0-1 and in Port Harcourt 1-0 the last term out with goals from Moses Omodumoke and Uche Onwuasoanya. The result leaves United in touch in the tie so a philosophical Eguma sees Sunday’s tie as a telling stamp in his footballing passport.
“We are not relying on past performance, no two games are the same. I understand that the Yanga SC has rebuilt its team and they are doing well this time around in the domestic league, they also top their group in the confederation cup.
We are not looking at what we achieved from them the last time, we are trying to push ourselves more than our capacity.
It’s not like before, we are coming with a new mentality and approach” – Eguma said.
Rivers United will host Young Africans of Tanzania at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium 2pm on Sunday 23rd April 2023 while the 2nd leg will be played 5pm at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Tanzania on Sunday 30th April 2023.
