By Victor Kanayo
Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed the dates, time and venues for the next round of the Champions League and Confederation Cup matches.
For Nigeria, four top clubs started the continental competition, however, three are remaining after one of them, Remo Stars, were eliminated in the preliminary first round.
Heritage Times HT reports that the latest release from CAF reveals that Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) winners – Rivers United will face another champions Wydad Casablanca of Morocco at the Adokie Amasiamaka stadium Portharcourt Rivers state on Sunday October 9, 2022 by 4pm Nigerian time.
Also, Nigerian league runners-up – Plateau United will confront former African champions Esperance of Tunisia on the same day at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja at the same time.
In the Confederation Cup, another Nigerian side – Kwara United will lock horns with defending champions RS Berkane of Morocco at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos by 4pm.
A win for both Rivers United and Plateau United will take them to the group stage of the Champions League while a defeat will drop them to the play-off of the Confederation Cup.
Victory will also take Kwara United to the final round of the qualifier while a defeat will automatically eliminate them from the competition.
As at the time of filling this report, only Esperance has disclosed their travel plans.
According to the North African club, they will jet into Nigeria on Thursday via chartered flight.
The Tunisia Ligue champions were drawn bye in the preliminary rounds while their opponent Plateau United defeated Gabonese side Stande De Manji.
With the Tunisian league on break, Esperance had a warm-up match last weekend against Club Africain and it ended in a draw.
They have been in closed camping exercise for the crucial game against the Nigerian Representative Plateau.
