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CAF Champions League: Nyima Nwagua upbeats about Rivers Utd chances vs. Wydad
By Wale Mustapha
It is always a regular expectations that have set a kind of perceptions that a 2-1 home win for most teams against a North African club sides in the continental competitions most times result to eventual elimination of such teams, especially, clubs from West Africa region.
Such were the expectations of most soccer pundits and enthusiasts after Rivers United managed to record a slim 2-1 home win over Wydad Casablanca in the first leg, second round of the 2022/2023 CAF Champions League encounter played in Port Harcourt On Sunday.
To many, despite coming from behind to earn that result, it may still not be enough to see Rivers United through to the Group stages of the competition, as it is, most times, usually the case.
One person, who doesn’t believe in such permutation and remain hopeful of a new twist is Rivers United’s striker, Nyima Nwagua who still believed in his side’s capabilities to get a decent result in Morocco, enough to give them the group state ticket.
The bulky forward who has garnered much experience from playing against North African opponents in continental competitions told FootballNigeria.ng that there is only one plan in the camp of side, which is going to Morocco, give it their all and qualify.
The former Lobi Stars and Kano Pillars’ striker said the believe and determination that saw Rivers United turnaround to win the first leg has been doubled just as he promised a better outing against the defending champions on Sunday.
“We understand what many people are saying as regards our chances and we are aware of what usually happens but we are ready to do the unexpected this time.
“We have only one thing and target with us, and that is go there and do all we can to qualify, even as we know it won’t be an easy task but we are ready.
“We are putting every eventualities into consideration and we are preparing for it, I believe with the body language of everyone in the team and God’s favor and grace upon us, we will get the needed result to get us through.
“Some of us have been there before and we are used to it (intimidation), but with team spirit and focus that have been working for us before now, I am confident and optimistic we will scale through,” Nwagua enthused.
The winner of the stage will qualify for the money spinning group stage of the CAF Champions League while the loser will drop to the CAF Confederation Cup final knockout stages.
Rivers United have been promised a huge sum of $40,000 each by Governor Nyesom Wike if they are able to make through Wydad.
The match is billed for Sunday at the Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca by 7pm Nigerian time.
