Enyimba, Rivers, Remo Get CAF Dates

Nigeria’s representatives at next season’s CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup will begin their quest to enter the group stages of the competition by August after the Confederation of African Football announced dates for the first round of preliminary matches.

CAF confirmed that the first leg of the preliminary round of both competitions will take place on the weekend of August 18 to 20, while the second leg is slated for a week later from August 25-27.

Nigeria Professional Football League champions, Enyimba, who won a record ninth league title at the NPFL Super 6, will be joined in the Champions League by Remo Stars, while Rivers United will play in the Confederation Cup along with the winners of the Federation Cup between Bendel Insurance and Enugu Rangers.

Having missed out on CAF competitions last season, Enyimba are making their return as the most successful team in Nigeria with two CAF Champions League titles (2003 and 2004) in their cabinet.

In order to participate in next season’s competition, CAF has also mandated the clubs to float women’s teams before June 30 to get their licenses.

Rivers United have Rivers Angels as their women’s team under the sponsorship of the Rivers State Government, just as Enyimba and Abia Angels are both under the Abia State Government.

The last representatives on the continent will emerge next Wednesday in Asaba, where three-time winners Bendel Insurance and six-time champions Enugu Rangers will faceoff in the FA Cup final.