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One of Nigeria’s flag bearers in this year’s CAF Champions League, Rivers United have a mountain to climb this afternoon, as they face Sudanese giant, El-Merreikh in the first leg, first round game at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium, Port Harcourt.
The visitors will parade three Nigerians against Rivers United in today’s tie, but Coach Stanley Eguma is optimistic his side will carry the day.
To Eguma, the presence of Nigerian-born Kunle Odunlami, Kelechi Osunwa and Dayo Ojo might be an advantage to El-Merreikh, but River United will go the extra mile to cage them.
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While two of the players Odunlami Dayo Ojo had featured Sunshine Stars of Akure before joining El-Merreikh, Osunwa featured for Dolphins of Port Harcourt.
A confident Coach Eguma told cafonline: “This looked like a bit of advantage to them because Kelechi (Osunwa) knows Rivers United very well having played with us here in Port Harcourt before he moved abroad. He knows our mentality so well but all that will count for nothing because we are talking about the team and not individuals. This is a game of football and we just have to put our own acts together.”
Speaking further, Eguma said: “We know that El Merriekh is a very big team as far as Sudanese football is concerned, and are one of the oldest clubs from that region.
“They have always been a fixture in the continental club championship and are a team with pedigree and we must respect them.
