Rivers United ready for AS Real test, says Team Captain

Players of Rivers United FC are upbeat about their chances when they face AS Real Bamako today.

The ‘Pride of Rivers’ will be guests of AS Real Bamako in today’s CAF Champions League match at the Stade Omnisports Modibo Keïta, Bamako, the first leg of their preliminary round clash in Africa’s apex club competition.

Club captain, Festus Austine, is adamant United can stun their Malian hosts today.

“I am confident we can win. We will try to do that emphatically on Saturday (today) and finish things off when we face them at home in the second leg,” he told supersport.com.

Nzube Anaezemba and Markson Ojobo were both part of the Enyimba side that was beaten over two legs by AS Real Bamako in the first leg of the same competition in 2014.

They have taken the time to warn their new teammates over what to expect in Bamako. Ojobo who was the first to speak, harped on the need to swing the support of the Real Bamako fans their way.

“One thing we can do to make life easier for ourselves is to start well. If we play entertaining football on Saturday; their fans will start cheering us.

“That was the scenario we experienced with Enyimba in 2014,” he said. Anaezemba called for focus and the need to stay true to the philosophy of the football club if success is to be achieved.

“I still recall playing against them in 2014. They had very good and young players. “If we stay focused and play our normal game, I am sure we can win on Saturday,” he said.