Rivers United will be without experienced goalkeeper Theophilus Afelokhai and midfielder Destiny Ashadi when they confront Futuro Kings in Sunday’s second leg preliminary round tie in the CAF Confederation Cup.

Head coach of the Port Harcourt side Stanley Eguma revealed that both players and some others are injured and will miss Sunday’s clash against the Equatoguineans, which United need to win to book a place in the next round of the competition after going down 1-2 to Futuro Kings in Mongomo a week ago.

Though Eguma did not disclose the nature or length of the injuries, he stated that there are capable replacements for the injured players, and remains optimistic of advancing to the next round on Sunday.

“Some players in the team are injured – some key players are injured,” Eguma said when asked if there are injury worries ahead of Sunday’s clash. “Player like (Theophilus) Afelokhai is injured, player like Destiny Ashadi and, maybe, few other ones are injured.

“They are key players that we really, really need their services, but in their absence, we can make do with the other ones – they are ready to deliver.

“It is not going to affect us, the team we are going to put out will live up to expectation.”

First choice goalkeeper Afelokhai joined Rivers United from Enyimba in a high-profile move in the off-season, while exciting midfielder Ashadi teamed up with Eguma’s side from Katsina United. Both players and a host others arrived Port Harcourt to boost the team, especially, in their continental campaign.

Rivers United need to beat Futuro by a clear goal on aggregate to advance to the first round of the competition when both sides clash at the Adokiye Amiesimaka stadium in Port Harcourt, with kickoff slated for 4pm.