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CAF Competitions: Can Nigeria quartet end trophyless campaigns?

 

Following the completion of the play-off draw of the CAF Confederation Cup, we run the rule on the four clubs spread across North, East and West Africa Enyimba, Akwa United, Plateau United and MFM will battle for places in the group stages of the competition…
AKWA UNITED vs AL HILAL OMDURMAN (SUDAN)
The 31-time Sudan Premier League champions who will face Nigeria Federation Cup champions Akwa United in the play-off were shockingly dumped out of the CAF Champions League by Togolese club AS Togo and will now look to make it to the group stages of the Confederation Cup.
They lost the first leg in Lome 2-0 and won the reverse fixture 3-1 but lost out on away goal rule.
A consistent campaigner on the continent, this will be the Omdurman based club 10th appearance in the CAF Confederation Cup. They have made it to the semi-finals twice and quarterfinals once.
On the domestic scene, they currently sit in 12th position in the 18-team Sudan Premier League table.
ENYIMBA vs BIDVEST WITS (SOUTH AFRICA)
Gavin Hunt’s men will battle two-time African champions Enyimba for a place group stages of the CAF Confederation Cup.
Bidvest Wits who won their first South Africa Premier League title last season were sent out of the CAF Champions League by Angolan club Primeiro do Agosto.
Bidvest Wits were eliminated 3-2 on penalties after aggregate scoreline from the two legs stood at 1-1.
They edged out Pamplemousses of Mauritius 2-1 on aggregate in the preliminary round of the CAF Champions League.
Their performance in the league have also been far from encouraging as they have managed to pick 29 points from 23 games and occupy 10th position in the table.
PLATEAU UNITED vs USM ALGER (ALGERIA)
A vastly experienced team and one of the popular clubs on the continent. Standing between USM Alger and a place in the group stages of the CAF Champions League is Nigerian Professional Football League champions Plateau United.
Having enjoyed a bye into the first round, the North Africans edged out AS Maniema of Democratic Republic of Congo on away goal rule to progress further in the competition.
USM Alger drew the first leg 2-2 and were held at home 1-1 by the Congolese.
The seven-time Algerian league champions are third with 38 points in the Ligue 1 table.
MFM vs DJOLIBA (MALI)
MFM’s opponents didn’t kick a ball in the preliminary round following the withdrawal of Elwa United of Liberia.
Djoliba barely scrapped past APR of Rwanda on away goal rule in the first round.
They won the first leg 1-0 at home in Bamako and lost the reverse fixture 2-1 in Kigali.
Domestically, they are way off the pace with 15 points separating them and leaders Stade Malien.

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