'Starting away is good for us', Eguma says as 'strong' Rivers United ready for Diables Noirs

CAFCC 'Starting away is good for us', Eguma says as 'strong' Rivers United ready for Diables Noirs

Jidechi Chidiezie 23:46 - 11.02.2023

Sunday’s game is billed for the Alphonse Massamba-Debat Stadium, Stade March and is expected to kick off at 5pm (Nigerian time).

Ahead of his side's first CAF Confederation Cup (CAFCC) group stage tie on Saturday, Rivers United coach Stanley Eguma has labelled his side as a strong side, despite being 'underdogs' in their group.

The Nigerian champions face Congolese side Diables Noirs on Sunday, for their CAF Confederation Cup group stage opener, while ASEC Mimosas will host Motema Pembe in the other group’s game.

The Port Harcourt club are Nigeria's only team left on the continent after Remo Stars, Kwara United and Plateau United all failed to make the group stages during the qualification series last year.

Underdogs Rivers United in Congo for serious business

Speaking from the team’s base in Brazzaville on Saturday, Eguma insists his side are not under pressure and are in Congo for serious business.

”For this competition, I am aware it is a CAFCC and the fixtures have been made and we are playing away from home first. So, we starting away is also good for us, it doesn’t matter,” Eguma said in Saturday's pre-match conference.

“We know them by their name and we have followed them in the past; they are perennial participants in this competition. We do not know much about them presently, but I know that the fact that they have been in the competition in the past all the time, we see them as a very strong side.

“We are the only underdog in the group, but we are not a weak side. We have come here for business/purpose, so we are not under any pressure to play. Our ambition is to qualify from the group irrespective of whoever is our opponent,” he added.

Stanley Eguma

Sunday’s game is billed for the Alphonse Massamba-Debat Stadium, Stade March and is expected to kick off at 5pm (Nigerian time).

Related content