CAF CL: Rivers, Plateau advance to next round

Rivers United are through to the next round of the 2022/2023 CAF Champion League playoffs after defeating FC Watanga of Liberia 3-1 in aggregate.

The 2022 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) champions registered a 3-0 victory over the Liberians in the first leg of the encounter at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt, last weekend.

But on Sunday, during the return leg in Monrovia, United found their opposition sturdier than they were a few days prior. Farsedu Logan’s 16 minutes strike was the only goal of the encounter and it was only good enough to reduce the deficit for Watanga.

Stanley Eguma’s side will face Wydad Casablanca of Morocco in the first round.

Plateau United, Nigeria’s second representative in the competition, also secured a next-round place after an aggregate 3-2 victory over Stade Mandji of Gabon.

The Fidelis Ilechukwu-led boys capitalised on the fortunate 2-2 draw they secured away in Gabon last weekend and topped the result with a 1-0 win in the return leg at Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja.

Haggai Katoh scored the winning goal in the 63rd minute.

The Jos club will battle with Esperance of Tunisia in the next round.

In the CAF Confederation Cup, Kwara United advanced to the next round of the play-off with a 3-0 aggregate victory over Niger Republic’s AS Douanes.

Remo Stars, however, suffered a 1-0 home loss in Ikenne to AS FAR. The result ended their maiden continental journey despite an impressive first-leg display.