Coach Stanley Eguma has admitted his Rivers United side are in for two tough matches against AS Real Bamako of Mali in a preliminary round of the 2017 CAF Champions League.
The Nigerian team travel to Bamako to face the six-time Malian champions in the first leg in February 2017, before navigating the return fixture a week later in Port Harcourt.
Eguma says the ties will be difficult for his side as they look to make a favourable impression in their first-ever campaign in Africa’s premiere club competition.
According to him, AS Real have a rich pedigree in CAF inter-club competitions and have a history of producing plenty of players for Mali’s senior national team.
