CAF Confederation Cup: Bendel Insurance and Rivers United get tough foes

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

2023 Nigeria Federations Cup winners, Bendel Insurance have been drawn to face ASO Clef of Algeria in the First Preliminary Round of the 2023/2024 CAF Confederation Cup.

The draw for the second-tier CAF Inter Club competition took place alongside that of the CAF Champions League on Tuesday.

The Benin Arsenal have a tough route in the CAF Confederation Cup as win over ASO Clef will reward Monday Odigie’s side with former champions RS Berkane of Morocco in the second round.

RS Berkane booted out Kwara United in the CAF Confederation Cup in the 2022/2023 season – and Insurance will aim to avoid same fate against the Moroccans.

For Rivers United, the Pride of Rivers has been drawn bye in the First Preliminary Round of the 2023/2024 CAF Confederation Cup.

The Port Harcourt-based side will face the winner of the First Preliminary Round clash between Ziguinchor of Senegal and Etoile Flante of Burkina Faso.

Insurance is returning to the CAF Confederation Cup for the first time since its maiden appearance in 2005 after a 1-0 win over Rangers International clinched the 2023 Federation Cup title.

Rivers United reached the quarter-final of the CAF Confederation Cup last season and qualified for the competition after a third place finish in the 2022/2023 Nigeria Premier Football League term.

The first leg of the First Preliminary Round will hold from August 18 to 20 with the return leg on August 25 to 27.

For the Second Preliminary Round, the first leg will take place from September 15 to 17 while the return leg will hold from September 29 to October 1, 2023.