CAF CC: Plateau United vs Al Akhdar Preview: The Peace boys eye clinical home win

Plateau United of Nigeria on Wednesday will welcome Al Akhdar of Libya to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja in the first leg of the 2022/2023 CAF Confederation Cup final Preliminary Round.

The Nigerian side dropped from the top-flight CAF Champions League after losing to Esperance Tunis of Tunisia on away goal rule with the two-legged tie ending in a 2-2 draw.

The Fidelis Ilechukwu side won two of its four games in the CAF Champions League, drew one, and had a slim 1-0 defeat in the hands of Esperance Tunis which ensured that the team drop to the second tier CAF Confederation Cup.

A 2-2 draw with Stade Mandji of Gabon was followed by a 1-0 triumph over the Gabonese side in Nigeria.

Against Esperance Tunis, Plateau United earned a 2-1 win at home before a controversial penalty kick which was converted by Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane handed Plateau United its first defeat of this season’s continental assignment.

The Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) is yet to commence compared to that of Libya.

For Al Akhdar, the Libyan side had a similar record to Plateau United albeit in the CAF Confederation Cup with two wins, a draw, and a defeat.

The team defeated Ahli Khartoum of Sudan (3-0) and Azam of Tanzania (3-0). A 0-0 draw with Ahli Khartoum and a 2-0 loss to Azam dented Al Akhdar’s unblemished record in the 2022/2023 CAF Confederation Cup.

In the Libyan Premier League, Al Akhdar won its only league game  4-0 against Al Taawun on October 21, 2022, and are second on the log.

With a similar continental record this season, it promises to be an intriguing encounter at the MKO International Stadium, Abuja on Wednesday.

Expect a slim win or draw for Plateau United ahead of the return leg in Libya on November 9, 2022.

The winner of the two legged tie will qualify to the group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup.

Form guide

Plateau United: DWWL

Al Akhdar: DWLW