Benin To Host Rivers United-Bloem Celtic Match

The African Confederation Cup second round first leg match between Rivers United of Nigeria and South Africa’s Bloemfontein Celtic will be played on 23 January in Benin’s capital Porto Norvo behind closed doors.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) confirmed the move to South African Football Association after its organization committee decided to postponed the match which was initially scheduled to be take place on 6 January 2020 in Port Harcourt.

Bloemfontein Celtic were unable to hour the fixture due to the strict Covid-19 restrictions in Nigeria. The John Maduka’s coached outfit was supposed to quarantine for seven days due to South Africa’s status as a high-risk nation.

The Nigeria Football Federation confirmed the new venue on Thursday after CAF mandated Rivers United as hosts to enter in discussion with a neighboring country to fix the venue and time for the clash.

Late goals from Godwin Aguda and Fortune Omoniwari handed Pride of Rivers a massive 2-0 away win in the first leg played at Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium.

The aggregate winner will face Enyimba International of Nigeria the play-off round of the African Confederation Cup.

The first leg of the play-off round will be held at the Enyimba Stadium, Aba on February 14, 2020 with the return leg taking place seven days later.

Celtic scraped through to the first round of the African Confederation Cup with a rather fortuitous penalty shootout victory over Congolese side Maniema Union.