“We’ll qualify for the group stage”, Omoniwari Expresses Readiness Ahead Of Al Hilal Test In Port Harcourt

Rivers United striker Fortune Omoniwari has talked up his team’s chances of booking a ticket for the group stages of this season’s CAF TotalEnergies Champions League.

The Pride of Rivers play host to Al Hilal Omdurman on Sunday, Oct. 17 at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium and will tereafter be expected in Egypt for the return fixture.

A good result over the two legs will ensure qualification to the group stage for the first time since 2016.

According to Charles Mayuku, the team’s Media Officer, Omoniwari, who missed both games against Young Africans of Tanzania in the first preliminary round, revealed to the club’s media that the team is 100 percent ready to grab a victory this Sunday as well as a group stage ticket.

“We are 100 per cent ready and I am very sure that we will come out with a good result. Looking at the boys everyone is working hard to make sure that we secure a group stage slot.

“We know everyone in Nigeria is looking up to us and there’s a lot of expectation. So we have to do what we know how to do best to make sure we get a victory,” Omoniwari said.

The team’s top marksman for last season also relished the prospect of having the fans in the stadium for the encounter, adding that it would be a massive boost for the team to have the fans behind them.

He said: “I have missed playing before the Rivers United fans because I know what it means when you have supporters around you and by the grace of God we are not going to let them down, we have to put smiles on their faces so that next time they can return to watch us.”

Sunday’s game will be open to 10,560 spectators and will mark the first time Rivers United will admit fans to the stadium since the Covid 19 pandemic struck in March 2020.