Rivers United, the pride of Nigerian football, is on the cusp of an exciting journey in the CAF Confederation Cup.
Following their impressive qualification from the second preliminary round, the team eagerly awaits the group stage draw scheduled for Friday, October 6th, in Johannesburg, South Africa.
This draw will determine the opponents they will face in the group stage of the competition, and Rivers United's ideal group stage draw could pave the way for a successful campaign.
Rivers United's journey in the CAF Confederation Cup holds significance not only for the club but also for Nigerian football.
They are the sole Nigerian representatives in the competition this year, as Bendel Insurance bowed out to RS Berkane of Morocco.
No Nigerian club has ever won this prestigious competition, and Rivers United has the opportunity to script history.
CAF Confederation Cup draw format
The group stage draw will see the 16 qualified teams divided into four groups of four. The draw is conducted based on the performances of these teams in CAF competitions over the previous five seasons.
Teams are classified into three pots: Pot 1, Pot 2, and Pot 3, with each group containing one team from Pot 1 and Pot 2, along with two teams from Pot 3.
The draw positions are allocated according to their respective pots.
Pot 1: Egypt Zamalek (39 pts), Morocco RS Berkane (37 pts), Algeria USM Alger (27 pts), Nigeria Rivers United (10 pts)
Pot 2: Republic of the Congo Diables Noirs (5 pts), Angola Sagrada Esperança (4 pts), Egypt Future (2.5 pts), Tunisia Club Africain (2 pts)
Pot 3: Angola Académica do Lobito, Ghana Dreams FC, Guinea Académie SOAR, Libya Abu Salim, Libya Al Hilal Benghazi, Mali Stade Malien, South Africa Sekhukhune United, South Africa SuperSport United
Rivers United's ideal group stage draw
Rivers United, being part of Pot 1 with 10 points, has a favorable position in the draw.
Their ideal group stage draw should see them avoiding the strongest teams in the competition and providing them with a fair chance to advance further.
Club Africain (Pot 2, 2 pts): Club Africain secured their place in the group stage with a 2–3 aggregate win against Bahir Dar Kenema.
While they have shown resilience, their performance in the CAF Confederation Cup has been relatively modest. Rivers United could see this as an opportunity to secure valuable points.
Al Hilal Benghazi (Pot 3): Al Hilal Benghazi had to qualify via penalties and only participated in the CAF Confederation Cup qualifications this season due to the delayed Libyan league.
This presents Rivers United with a potential opportunity to assert their dominance.
Dreams FC (Pot 3): Dreams FC from Ghana has had a shaky start to their season, notably losing the Ghana Super Cup final.
This could be a favorable matchup for Rivers United, allowing them to capitalize on their opponents' early-season instability.
Rivers United's journey in the CAF Confederation Cup is a matter of pride for Nigerian football.
As they prepare for the group stage draw, their ideal group stage draw scenario presents them with the chance to compete against teams that might not be in the best form or have a strong historical record in the competition.
With determination and preparation, Rivers United could be on the path to making history and bringing glory to Nigerian football on the continental stage.
The draw on Friday will be eagerly awaited by fans, players, and management alike, as the journey towards continental success unfolds.
This article was most recently revised and updated 28 mins ago
