CAF CC: Rivers Utd charged up ahead Bloemfontein Celtic clash, says Eguma

By Akeem Lawal

RIVERS United Technical Adviser, Stanley Eguma believes their 3-1 victory over Heartland in the matchday 5 of the NPFL will serve as a morale booster ahead of their CAF Confederation Cup clash against South African side Bloemfontein Celtic.

Sportsbiz247.blogspot.com reports that goals from Godwin Aguda, Kazie Enyinnaya and Malachi Ohawume ensured that Rivers United remain top of the NPFL table with 12 points from 5 matches.

The Pride of Rivers will return to CAF Confederation Cup action as they travel to Port Novo, Benin Republic to confront Bloemfontein Celtic on Saturday 23rd November 2021 by 4pm local time (3pm Nigeria time). They would be keen to defend their lead from the first leg after beating Celtic 2-0 on December 23, 2020.

"I thank my players, the put up a good effort, I thank God almighty the most important thing and I thank the management too. We were able to win today. We actually prepared for this match very well knowing fully well that Heartland is a strong team especially their most recent game when they played Enyimba. We knew we were going to have a very big fight because it's a local derby. We expected a very tough game like this and by the grace of God we were able to win.

"We had to work extra hard to get this three points today. It was a hard earned one. The way Heartland came fighting from all corners and at the end of the day, we rose up to the occasion and pick the three points.

"It's a good one for us at least it will also bring back confidence into the team. And especially now that we are going back to the continent to play a continental game, this match is going to raise the moral of the players for us to continue to be in a winning streak, that winning mentality that we return back to play the South African team," Eguma said.

Head Coach Heartland FC, Christian Obi however blamed their loss to lack of concentration in the later stage of the match.

"Every coach will always be optimistic of victory, so we didn't bargain it but it came. Well I will attribute it to lack of concentration towards the dying minutes of the game."