CAFCL: Improved Rivers Utd Ready For Al Hilal Clash – Eguma (AUDIO)

Rivers United Stanley Eguma says the Pride of Rivers are a much-improved side, a few days after Fatai Osho was appointed as his assistant, adding that they are ready for their CAF Champions League clash with Sudanese giants Al Hilal on Sunday.

The Port Harcourt side host Hilal at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in the first leg of their second preliminary round tie, with the reverse fixture billed for Cairo, Egypt, a week later, as the stadium in Omdurman failed to get CAF’s approval.

After weeks of preparation, the long-serving tactician believes his team will beat the Sudanese side over two legs and advance to the money-spinning group stage of the competition.

“Well, we are prepared. We have been training all along after our preliminary qualification,” Eguma told www.busybuddiesng.com.

“The players have worked hard and I think I see some improvements in the team. And I believe that we are very, very positive of the match – that we are going to get the needed victory.

“Well, it’s a game of football. We are ready like I said. We’ve done all that we could do and we are very optimistic that we are going to win the match and then possibly qualify, not only winning but to qualify to the next stage (group stage) of the competition.”

On the addition of former Enyimba coach Osho to his technical crew, Eguma said: “We all know that he is a good coach. He has proven his mettle in Nigerian football. He has proven to be a coach that knows the rudiments (of the game) and has the well withal to groom players and put that understanding in players.

“I think he is an apostle of free-flowing football, and I think he is going to add to our team.

“Also, his wealth of experience in the continent too is a plus. It is going to add to what we already have in Rivers United.

“Bringing him in is a plus. He is a coach that is disciplined, and he is the type that can always work with two other coaches.”

Osho led 2-time African champions Enyimba to back-to-back quarter-finals finishes in the CAF Confederation Cup in 2020 and 2021, before quitting the Aba side at the end of last season following the expiration of his contract.