Uganda’s KCCA and Nigeria’s Rivers United will be among the clubs eager to get their 2017 CAF Confederation Cup campaign back on track when they play their second group games.
KCCA and Rivers United lost 3-0 and 3-1 respectively to FUS Rabat of Morocco and Club Africain of Tunisia respectively more than a week ago.
The Ugandan champions, who like United, dropped into the continent’s second tier club competition from the CAF Champions League host the Tunisians whilst the Nigerians are at home to 2010 winners, FUS Rabat.
“There is nothing special about them (Club Africain),” Mutebi told a pre-match press briefing on Monday as he seeks to get his first win in the group stages.
For Rivers captain Festus Austine, home advantage will be key against the rampant Moroccans and believes they can go on to win the competition despite losing their first game.
“Our aim is to become the first Nigerian winners of the Confederation Cup,” he told reporters as quoted by CAFonline. “We are good enough to achieve that goal.”
In Group B, Mbabane Swallows of Swaziland host South Africa’s Platinum Stars with either targeting first group victory.
The South African side, conquerors of Uganda’s Vipers in the early stages of the competition drew 1-1 at home to MC Algers at home while Mbabane lost 1-0 to three-time champions, CS Sfaxien of Tunisia.
The Tunisian side play away to fellow North Africans MC Algers seeking to maintain their 100% start to the campaign.
In Group C, Zambia’s Zesco United play away to Sudan’s Al Hilal Obeid, new home to Ugandan international centre forward, Hamis ‘Diego’ Kiiza who is expected to make his debut.
The Zambian side, last year’s CAF Champions League semi-finalists will rely on Kenyan internationals Jesse Were, Anthony Akumu and David Owino.
They won the first match 1-0 against Egypt’s Smouha who are at home to Angola’s CRD Libolo that beat Al Hilal Obeid 1-0 on day one in Luanda.
Elsewhere, favourites and title holders TP Mazembe take on Guinea’s Horoya away whilst SuperSport United of South Africa take on CF Mounana of Gabon in Libreville.
Tuesday May 23, 2017
Mbabane Swallows (Swaziland) Vs Platinum Stars (RSA)
CF Mounana (Gabon) Vs SuperSport United (RSA)
KCCA (Uganda) Vs Club Africain (Tunisia)
MC Alger (Algeria) Vs CS Sfaxien (Tunisia)
Wednesday May 24, 2017
Horoya (Guinea) Vs TP Mazembe (DRC)
Rivers United Vs FUS Rabat (Morocco)
Smouha (Egypt) Vs CRD Libolo (Angola)
Al Hilal Obeid (Sudan) Vs Zesco United (Zambia)
