Conf Cup: Rivers United to battle Asec Mimosas, Motema Pembe

Nigeria’s Rivers United will not be having a tea party in the 2022-2023 season in the CAF Confederation Cup, after they were draw against veterans and hard fighters in Group B. In the draw held in Cairo Egypt on Monday, the Garden City side were drawn against Asec Mimosas of Cote d Ivoire, DC Motema Pembe of DR Congo and Diables Noirs of Congo.

The ceremony was attended by a host of guests including Angolan legend Flavio Amado, Tunisians Aymen Mathlouthi and Mejdi Traoui, Moroccan Ghizlane Chebbak. Former Zambian international Christopher Katongo who played in the tournament during his active years conducted the draw under the guidance of CAF Competitions Director Samson Adamu.

Rivers United will be flying solo in the championship as no other Nigerian team is in contention just like none of them is in the CAF Champions League the draw of which was also made on Monday with Mamelodi Sundowns South Africa renewing rivalry against Ah Ahly.

The matches will be played between February 12 and April 2023. It has been herculian task for Nigeria teams making major impact in both the CAF Champions and Confederation Cups since the exploits of Enyimba in 2003/2004.

Most subsequent representations has seen the Nigerian flag bearers hitting the exit doors in the group stages with some analysts and fans alike blaming it on falling standard of play and officiating in the Nigeria professional football League.

TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup groups:

Group A: USMA (Algeria), Marumo Gallants (South Africa), Al Akhder (Libya), St Eloi Lupopo (DR Congo)

Group B: ASEC Mimosas (Côte d’Ivoire), Diables Noirs (Congo), Rivers United (Nigeria), DC Motema Pembe (DR Congo)

Group C: Pyramids FC (Egypt), ASKO de kara (Togo), Future FC (Egypt), ASFAR (Morocco)

Group D: TP Mazembe (DR Congo), US Monastir (Tunisia), Young Africans (Tanzania), AS Real Bamako (Mali)

The matches will be played according to the following schedule:

Matchday 1: 12 February 2023

Matchday 2: 19 February 2023

Matchday 3: 26 February 2023

Matchday 4: 8 March 2023

Matchday 5: 19 March 2023

Matchday 6: 2 April 2023