Nabi wary of 'big-hearted' Rivers United

Nasreddine Nabi, coach of Young Africans during the CAF Confederation Cup 2022/23 Young Africans press conference held at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, Nigeria on 22 April 2023 ©Justina Aniefiok/BackpagePix

by Staff Reporter

Tuesday Apr 25, 2023. 15:00

Young Africans head coach Nasreddine Nabi does not expect Rivers United to lie down for them in the CAF Confederation Cup quarter-final, second leg at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium on Sunday.

Yanga are in the driver’s seat after claiming a 2-0 victory in the first leg last weekend, courtesy of a second-half brace from Fiston Mayele (73′, 81′) at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.

Nabi’s side have a good record on home soil in the competition, winning all three of their matches in Group D to clinch top spot ahead of US Monastir on goal difference.

However, the Tunisian tactician is wary of writing off the Pride of Rivers, who beat the Tanzanian club 1-0 in Dar es Salaam in the CAF Champions League two years ago.

“It is not finished. I know Nigerian players, they have big hearts. This is what I told my players in the first meeting, the tie is not over,” Nabi insisted.

“I pushed my players to score away from Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, we didn’t come here for revenge but to qualify. We lost here two years ago because Yanga wasn’t ready but still, there is no revenge in football. You either have a victory or a loss, not revenge.

“Yanga came here ready to sacrifice and qualify. That was our only focus but we have big respect for Rivers United players. And the tie is not finished, we are in Africa! We quickly become happy and quickly go down.”