Rivers United Football Club of Port Harcourt is gearing up for an exciting showdown in the CAF Confederation Cup. In the upcoming second preliminary round, they are set to face off against Burkina Faso’s Etoile Filante. The first leg of the clash is set to be played on September 15th, 2023 in Burkina Faso, while the return fixture would be played on September 29 in Nigeria.
Etoile Filante’s journey to this stage was hard-fought. They secured their slot in the next round through a nail-biting 0-0 draw against Senegal’s Casa Sports Ziguinchor. The intense match was played at the AU Stade De La Paix De Bouake in Cote D’Ivoire on August 27. The Burkina Faso club’s qualification hinged on the away goals rule, following a 1-1 draw in the first leg against their Senegalese counterparts.
For Rivers United, this CAF Confederation Cup campaign has been marked by anticipation and preparation. The club earned a bye in the first stage of the competition, setting the stage for their upcoming challenge. This time around, they are determined to make a mark and progress further.
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Reflecting on the previous edition of the tournament, Rivers United faced a tough hurdle in the form of Tanzania’s Young Africans during the quarter-final stage. The quarter-final contest saw Young Africans emerge victorious with a 2-0 aggregate win. Rivers United had a setback in the first leg as they lost by two goals to nothing at home. The return leg, held at the Benjamin Nkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam, ended in a 0-0 draw, sealing Young Africans’ passage to the next round.
As the anticipation builds for the upcoming clash with Etoile Filante, Rivers United aims to draw inspiration from their past experiences, learn from their challenges, and bring their best game to the field. The stage is set for a thrilling encounter that will captivate football enthusiasts and showcase the dedication of both teams in the pursuit of CAF Confederation Cup success.
