Nigerian clubs Rivers United and Plateau United still have North African hurdles to scale in their bid to reach the latter stages of a Confederation of African Football competition.
The Nigeria Professional Football League champions and runners-up have been drawn to face Libyan opposition in the playoffs for tickets to the group phase of the CAF Confederation Cup.
In the draw held today, Rivers United were picked to play Al Nasr Benghazi, while Plateau United will battle Al Akhdar, both of Libya.
The first legs are scheduled for November 2, with the return fixtures seven days later.
Incidentally, both Nigerian clubs will play at home first, just like they did in the second qualifying round of the CAF Champions League, from where they dropped down to the Confederation Cup.
Rivers United will host Al Nasr at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt first before travelling for the second leg in Libya.
On their part, Plateau United will welcome Al Akhdar to the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja in the first leg before heading off to Bayda for the reverse fixture.
Rivers United were eliminated from the Champions League after an embarrassing 7-2 aggregate defeat to holders Wydad Athletic Club of Morocco, while Tunisia’s Esperance saw off Plateau United on the away goals rule following a 3-3 aggregate score.
Al Nasr Benghazi play their home games at the 10,000-capacity Martyrs of February Stadium in Benghazi and have won the Libyan Premier League title twice, the second time in 2018.
Al-Akhdar Sports Club are not as accomplished as Al Nasr, and they are based in Bayda, the fourth largest city in Libya after Tripoli, Benghazi and Misrata, with a population of circa 250,000 people.
