It’s clear that the pathway of all four teams in the continental level are very tough. No thanks to the quality of football played in this part of Africa.
Enyimba Football Club in time past set a precedence for clubs to emulate in Nigeria with a massive support from Abia State, the Orji Uzor Kalu led government, but nothing more had come to Nigeria after thier historic triumph in 2004. The football governing body in Africa have drawn teams for this Season’s CAF competitions but it’s not going to be a cruze control for Nigeria’s representatives.
Champions of the Nigerian Professional Football League, Rivers United will have to face stiff Oppositions to advance, not to the group stage but to the first round of the CAF Champions League.
The Port Harcourt based team will have to face Watanga FC and after that, it gets tougher as they will line up agaist defending champions, Wydad Athletic Club of Casablanca, Morocco if they want a place in the group stage.
Second representative Plateau United will have to scale thier first hurdle against AS Stade Mandji of Gabon. If they scale through, then Plateau United will have fight for a place in the group stage as they will face power house Tunisian side, Esperance, before the group stage will be a reality for them.
After entering the CAF Confederation’s Cup through what people called ” the back door”, Kwara United will go against AS Douanes of Niger Republic and if they can go through, they will face a very tough side, RS Berkane of Morocco.
The Ikene boys, Remo Stars will be making thier debut in Africa with a game with AS Far also of Morocco.
The Confederation of African Football, CAF rank clubs in Africa with results gotten from not just the domestic scene but from continental competitions within five years so clubs performance within five years will determine how stiff your oppositions are.
To avoid the big boys, you have to rank high as a big team because the big teams enter from the first round, just before the group stage.
The competition starts with a preliminary stage, then advances to the first round. Both rounds are played on a home and away knockout format before the last sixteen will be group in four group format of four teams each.
