Rivers United – Diables Noirs Preview: Pride of Rivers aim to seal CCC quarter-final berth

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

Nigeria champions, Rivers United will attempt to qualify for the quarter-final at the expense of Diables Noirs in the 2022/2023 CAF Confederation Cup encounter on Sunday.

Stanley Eguma’s side will fancy the chance to record its fourth straight win in the group stage against the Congolese, having won its last three group games after a 3-0 loss to Sunday’s opponent in the reverse fixture.

The clash between first and third-placed teams in Group B will give a perfect picture ahead of the last group games.

Rivers United tops Group B with nine points after four games as they remained unbeaten after five games in all competitions after a 3-0 loss to Diables Noirs in February – a result the Nigerians will be out to avenge for.

Eguma’s men bounced back with victories over Asec Mimosa and DC Motema Pembe (twice) as well as two draws in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) with Bayelsa United and Abia Warriors.

For Diables Noirs, the team is on a recent bad patch of form with a winless streak in its last two games in all competitions.

In its last six games in all competitions, the Congolese side can only boast of two wins, first coming against Rivers United in the Confederation Cup and V. Club Mokanda in Congo’s Ligue 1.

A win for Rivers United will certainly guarantee a place in the quarter-final depending on the result of the clash between DC Motema Pembe and Asec Mimosa.

Diables Noirs need a result to salvage its campaign at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.