Rivers United coach Stanley Eguma says CAF Confederation Cup first round opponents Bloemfontein Celtic are a ‘good team’, but believes the South Africans have a vulnerability his players can exploit over two legs to progress to the next round.
The Pride of Rivers face Celtic next Wednesday in Bloemfontein before the second leg in Port Harcourt on 6 January – with the aggregate winners advancing to the playoff round of the competition.
Eguma, who alongside his technical crew and players watched 10-man Bloemfontein Celtic lose 2-1 to Orlando Pirates in the MTN8 final at the weekend, said he won’t plan for his side’s clash against the South Africans solely based on what he saw on Saturday, but noted that John Maduka’s wards are ‘vulnerable’.
Given the needed support from the sponsors and management of the team, the former Enyimba assistant coach, however, expressed confidence Rivers United will advance to the next round at the expense of Celtic provided the players remain focused and give their ‘best’.
No Nigerian team has won the CAF Confederation Cup since its inception in 2004, with Rivers United (then Dolphins) reaching the final in 2005, where they lost to FAR Rabat of Morocco 3-1 on aggregate.
Both Rivers United and Bloemfontein Celtic needed penalties to see off their opponents in the previous round with United defeating Futuro Kings while Celtic triumphed over Maniema Union.