Following the conclusion of group stage matches in this year’s CAF Confederations Cup last weekend, a date has been fixed for Nigeria side Rivers United to find out their next opponent in the quarter-finals.
Rivers United, who needed a dramatic late win to snatch all three points in their last group game against Ghanaian side Dreams FC in Uyo, which ensured qualification, will be seeking to better their last season’s performance at the same stage.
Who are the teams in the CAF Confederations Cup quarter-finals?
Reigning champions, USM Alger headline the eight clubs that will go into the draw quarter-finals. The Algerian side further went on to lift the TotalEnergies CAF Super Cup against record CAF Champions League holders, Al Ahly of Egypt.
This season’s quarter-finalists include four clubs that have lifted the title in recent years, which are current holders, USM Alger of Algeria (2022/23), Stade de Malien of Mali (2008/09), RS Berkane of Morocco (2019/20, 2021/22,) as well as Zamalek of Egypt (2018/19).
While the quartet of Nigeria’s Rivers United, Dreams FC of Ghana, Abu Salem of Libya and Egyptian side Modern Future are the other teams that complete the quarter final spots and will be looking at making a name for themselves on the continent.
TotalEnergies CAF Confederations Cup quarter-finalists
Abu Salem (Libya), Dreams FC (Ghana), Modern Future (Egypt), Rivers United (Nigeria), RS Berkane (Morocco), Stade Malien (Mali), USM Alger (Algeria), Zamalek (Egypt)
When is the CAF Confederations Cup quarter-final draw?
The draw for the quarter-finals stage of this season’s competition will take place on Tuesday, March 12 at the CAF headquarters in Cairo.
The draw will see the four group winners seeded while the four group runners-up will be unseeded. The seeded teams will be drawn against the unseeded teams, with the seeded teams hosting the second leg.
The first leg of the quarters for Rivers United will be played on March 31 at the Godswill Akpabio International stadium in Uyo while the return leg will be held a week later.
Who can Rivers United face in Confederations Cup?
It must be stated that teams from the same group can not be drawn against each other in the CAF Confederations Cup quarter-finals but teams from the same association could be drawn against each other.
This means that the Nigerian side will not be able to meet its Group C opponents, Dreams FC of Ghana, at this stage.
Due to its second-place finish, Rivers United will be placed in pot two alongside Abu Salem of Libya, Modern Future of Egypt and Stade Malien of Mali.
It simply means that Rivers United can play only three teams from pot one.
One opponent is RS Berkane of Morocco, who will be no strangers to the turf in Uyo because that was where they were crowned champions in 2022 in a penalty shootout win over South African side Orlando Pirates.
The Nigerian side can also play against the defending CAF Confederations Cup champions USM Alger of Algeria or Zamalek of Egypt over two legs.
