Nigerian clubs in the CAF Champions League, Rivers United and Plateau United, have been handed tough routes to the group stages of the competition.
In the draw held today, Nigeria Professional Football League champions Rivers United were placed in a path that could take them to African champions Wydad Athletic Club of Morocco.
NPFL runners-up Plateau United are also on course to come up against one of the continent’s most successful clubs, Tunisia’s Esperance.
Rivers United have a relatively straightforward first-round tie against Watanga FC of Liberia.
However, if they beat the Liberians over two legs as expected, Rivers United have the daunting task of overcoming Wydad, who beat Al Ahly in last season’s final, for a spot in the lucrative group phase.
Plateau United also have a relatively kind fixture in the first round, where they play AS Stade Mandji of Gabon.
It is in the round before the group stage the real challenge lies, as the NPFL runners-up will battle Esperance, who have won the CAF Champions League four times, including in 2018 and 2019, and have Super Eagles forward Anayo Iwuala in their squad.
The first round fixtures are to begin on September 9.
In the CAF Confederation Cup, Kwara United will face AS Douanes of Senegal in the first round.
If the Ilorin side get past AS Douanes, they will have to scale past RS Berkane of Morocco to reach the group stage.
RS Berkane have intimidating credentials; they are not only the defending champions of the competition, they have won it twice in the last three seasons and reached three finals in four years.
The other Nigerian representatives in the CAF Confederation Cup, continental newcomers Remo Stars, are to battle experienced AS FAR of Morocco in the preliminary round.
If the Ogun State-based side make it past the Moroccan club, they will play either AAGBS of Guinea or Nouakchott CS of Mauritania in the next round.
