CAFCC: Doctors sweat on Rivers United hitman ahead of YANGA clash in Uyo
He was the weapon of destruction used by Coach Stanley Eguma to eliminate DC Motema Pembe from the competition
By Olusola Adebayo
Doctors are having sleeplessness in their bid to get Rivers United forward Paul Acquah, fit for the first leg CAF Confederation Quarter final tie billed for the Godswill Akpabio Stadium Uyo on Sunday.
The Ghanaian has scored four goals to remain Rivers United's top scorer in the competition. He was the weapon of destruction used by Coach Stanley Eguma to eliminate DC Motema Pembe from the competition.
The 27-year-old scored the lone goal that sunk DC Motema to their first defeat in the competition in Luanda before scoring an ing hat trick against the team in the return leg in Uyo to give Rivers United the maximum six points over the Congolese side.
Speaking ahead of the tie in Port Harcourt on Saturday, Charles Mayuku, the media officer of Rivers United informed journalists that the pint size, the midfielder is recovering faster and he is in the squad that will face the Young Africans of Tanzania but will still need to see the doctors on Sunday morning to see if he Is fully fit for selection.
“Acquah is back in training with the rest of the team preparing for our game against Young African of Tanzania. He will be assessed by the coaches for final inclusion, but he is training with the squad in Uyo,” Mayuku said.
The midfielder sustained an injury in Rivers United’s final group game against ASEC Mimosas of Cote d’Ivoire in Yamoussoukro last month.
Meanwhile, Young Africans arrived in Uyo on Friday afternoon after spending Thursday night in Lagos.
They had their first training session at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium on Friday evening and have the feel of the mainbowl around 2 pm on Saturday.
South African referee, Tom Abongile, 30, will take charge of proceedings as all is set for the 2 pm kick-off time.
Both teams only met once in the past, Rivers United recorded 1-0/victories home and away over YANGA in the n 2021 CAF Champions Leagufirst-rounded preliminary round.
Other fixtures to look out for in the quarterfinals are as follows.
Algeria’s USM Algiers will meet Morocco’s AS FAR in a North African derby in Algiers.
Egypt’s Pyramids FC is home in Cairo to debutants, Marumo Gallants of South Africa.
ASEC Mimosas, are away to Tunisia’s US Monastir.
The second leg will hold on April 30, and the winners over the two legs will proceed to the Semi-Finals which are scheduled for May 14 and 21.
