Nigerian Clubs get Tough Fixtures in CAF Champions League & Confederation Cup Second Round

By Emmanuel Oladele - Nigerian clubs have been handed tough pairings in the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup second round. Rivers United FC of Portharcourt after beating Watanga FC of Liberia by 3-1 on aggregate, will now face Wydad Athletic Club of Morocco in CAF Champions League second round.

Nigeria second representative in the CAF Champions League Plateau United will face Esperance of Tunisia. Recall, the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) side defeated Stade Mandji of Gabon by 3-2 on aggregate in the first preliminary round to book a second round meeting with Esperance.

On the other hand, Kwara United after thrashing AS Douanes of Niger by 3-0 on aggregate, will now trade tackles with RS Berkane of Morocco in the second round.

All Nigerian teams that progressed to the second round will be facing top North African Teams. In recent years, Nigerian clubs have struggled playing against the North Africans teams in continental games, it's going to be tough considering the pedigree of those teams in CAF club competitions.

The first legs of the second round will hold between October 7-9, while the second legs hold between October 14-16. See details below;

CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2ND ROUND FIXTURES FOR NIGERIAN CLUBS

• Plateau United vs Esperance (Tunisia)

• Rivers United vs Wydad Athletic Club (Morocco)

CAF CONFEDERATION CUP 2ND ROUND FIXTURE FOR NIGERIAN CLUB

• Kwara United vs RS Berkane (Morocco)

Date

First Leg (October 7-8)

Second Leg (October 14-16)