Rivers United arrive ahead of Rayon clash

Nigeria Professional Football League side Rivers United arrived in the country on Thursday ahead of the CAF Confederation Cup playoff round return leg against Rayon Sports scheduled for this Saturday at Amahoro National Stadium.

Thursday, April 20, 2017
Rayon Sports stumbled in their bid to reach the group stage of the continent's club competition. / Courtesy

Return legSaturdayRayon Sports vs Rivers United 3:30pm

Nigeria Professional Football League side Rivers United arrived in the country on Thursday ahead of the CAF Confederation Cup playoff round return leg against Rayon Sports scheduled for this Saturday at Amahoro National Stadium.

The Port Harcourt-based side, who won 2-0 in the first leg last Sunday at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium, will be looking to finish off the job and progress to the group stage.

Rivers United head coach, Willy Udube, says that despite having an upper hand, they will work hard to avoid a repeat of what happened to them against El Merreikh of Sudan when they crashed out of the CAF Champions League.

Despite taking a 3-0 first leg advantage to Omdurman, Rivers United lost 4-0 in the second leg and were thus eliminated 4-3 on aggregate.

And ahead of their second leg clash against Rayon Sports, Udube said the game against El Merreikh still haunts them, that they will fight not to go through similar pain.

Rwanda Peace Cup holders, Rayon Sports, are seeking to become the first Rwandan club ever to reach the group stage of the continent’s club competition.

Goals in either side of half time from Emeka Atuloma and Guy Kuemian put the Nigerian side in the driving seat. Rayon Sports head coach Djuma Masudi believes his team can overturn first leg deficit.

The Blues have a big task as they are required to win 2-0 to take the tie into extra time or at least three unanswered goals to advance to the group stages.

However, Masudi will miss the services of key midfielder Fabrice Kakule Mugheni, who is suspended for the second leg match after receiving a yellow card during the first match, which was the second booking in two consecutive matches.

The good news for the Peace Cup holders is that they will be welcoming back their top scorer Shassir Nahimana, who has scored 12 league goals (missed the first leg due to illness), and defender Ange Mutsinzi who was suspended for the first leg.

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