After Nigerian clubs in continental campaigns got eliminated at the final hurdle to the group stage of the CAF Champions League at the weekend, Rivers United FC and Plateau United have again been handed North African oppositions in the playoffs for the Confederation Cup group phase.
At the draw yesterday for the playoffs where teams will qualify for the group stage, both Rivers and Plateau were paired against two Libyan teams in the home and away two-legged fixtures scheduled for next month. The first leg match will hold on 2 November. The return match will be a week later on 9 November.
Rivers United will take on El Nasr while Plateau have Al Akhder hurdle to climb.
Nigeria’s other clubs that featured in the Confederation Cup earlier, Remo Stars and Kwara United were knocked-out by North African teams.
It was also Moroccan club, Wydad that ousted Rivers United from the Champions League, while Tunisia’s Esperance dealt Plateau United the unkind cut of elimination from the money spinning group stage of the continent’s premier club competition.
No Nigerian club has ever won the competition that is in its 20th edition.
Interestingly, cup holders, RS Berkane will face Tunisia’s US Monastir in the play-offs for the group stage of this season’s CAF Confederation Cup.