NIGERIA’S representatives in the CAF Champions League, Akwa United and Rivers United, have been drawn against very tough opponents in the preliminary round of the competition.
The draw was made on Friday, with 44 clubs from across Africa involved.
Nigeria Professional Football League champions Akwa United will have to overcome Algeria’s CR Belouizdad to advance to the second preliminary round.
The inexperienced Nigerian side, who just won their first-ever NPFL title, are up against seven-time Algerian champions.
Belouizdad won the Algerian title in 2019/2020 and are on top of the table currently with three rounds of fixtures to go in the 2020/2021 season.
On their part, NPFL runners-up Rivers United have been drawn against one of Tanzania’s best supported clubs, Young Africans, who have won the country’s league a record 22 times.
Young Africans are returning to the CAF Champions League for the first time since 2017.
The first legs of the preliminary round ties are billed for between 7 September and 9 September, with the return legs a week later.
Akwa United play their home leg first, while Rivers United start their quest away from home.
If the Nigerian champions survive Belouizdad, they will face either Senegal’s Tengueth or Cote d’Ivoire’s ASEC in the second preliminary round.
Rivers United will battle Sudan’s Al Hilal or Fasil Ketema of Ethiopia if the Nigerians get past Young Africans.
