CCL: Rangers, Rivers Utd battle Saoura, Real Bamako away

 

By Rasaq Oboirien

NIGERIA Premier League champions, Rangers International of Enugu and runners-up, Rivers United will kick off their CAF Champions League campaign away from home, reports NaijaSportsXtra.blogspot.com.

Both teams were on Thursday drawn against J.S Saoura (Algeria) and AS Real Bamako in the preliminary round of the continent top elite inter club football championship.

Coach Imama Amapakabo and his Rivers United counterpart, Stanley Eguma will be leading their teams out against Algerian and Malian sides on February 10-12,2017 for the 1st leg tie.

The return legs will be played in Enugu and Port-Harcourt respectively on February 17-19.

Meanwhile, the die will be cast for the Flying Antelopes if they qualify from the preliminary round as they be guest to Egyptian giants, Zamalek in the round of 16 while Rivers United will host either Sony Nguema (Equatorial Guinea) or Sudan's Al-Merrikh.

Both legs of the round of 16 fixtures will be played on March 10-12 and 17-19 respectively.

The winner of the fixture will automatically qualify to the money winning stage of the championship.

Meanwhile, the follow the review of the prize money by CAF, the champions get a whooping sum of $2.5 million (about N788 million) and play in the FIFA World Club Cup.

The runners-up will receive $1.25 million (N394 million), semi-finalists $875,000 (N276 million), quarter-finalists $650,000 (N205 million) and the eight group stage qualifiers who fail to make the knockout stage $550,000 (N173 million) each.  

Rivers Utd yet to reach desired level, says Eguma

CAF Champions League side, Rivers United have entered the third phase of their pre-season exercise ahead of the commencement of the 2016/17 football season.
The first phase commenced in Port Harcourt on November 1 with the ‘Pride of Rivers’ playing a handful of test matches against local sides while the coaches concentrated on bringing the players up to speed from a physical perspective.
On Sunday, November 20, United kicked off her second phase of pre-season in Abuja with priority put on physical work with technical manager, Stanley Eguma gradually introducing his philosophy to the new arrivals.

2016/17: LMC proposes more Friday Night matches

By Rasaq Oboirien
THE League Management Company (LMC) has informed that there are plans to have more Friday Night matches during the 2016/17 football season, reports NaijaSportsXtra.blogspot.com.
Shehu Dikko the 2nd Vice-President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) state said in an interview posted on Social media video channel, YouTube. 
"We plan to have more matches for Friday night in the upcoming season with a view of attracting more fans to our various Nigeria Premier League matches venues.
"We would have noticed that the English Premier League (EPL) now have Friday Night matches in their fixtures.
"I wouldn't want to use the word copy, like some would say as least the NPL started before them and it has improved our league greatly.
"The long term gains of the plan would see Nigerian fans watch their favorite teams, Rangers, Pillars, Rivers United, Shooting Stars, Ifeanyi Ubah and the other teams in action as from Friday to Sunday. So it's a weekend of great Nigerian football and our fans won't miss it.
"For the clubs too, they can begin to make money from ticket sales and merchandise sales of replica jerseys too."
Recall the new season which is expected to commence on December 18 will have its draws made on December 10 at the NPL Super 4 to be hosted in Enugu.
Defending champions, Rangers International will battle the trio of Rivers United, Wikki Tourists and Federation Cup winners, Ifeanyi Ubah to the 4-team tourney trophy at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium.