The Nigerian Club Owners Association is confident that four teams representing Nigeria on the continent will be worthy ambassadors of the league.
This was stated by the vice-president of the body, Kunle Soname, during a meeting with the President of the Nigerian Football Association (NFF) Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau in Abuja.
It also allayed concerns expressed by many that Ikenne’s Remo Stars didn’t have an all-female team.
One of the requirements for participation in this year’s Confederation of African Football (CAF) men’s competition is that the clubs have a women’s team.
“I’m delighted that the four teams that will fly national flags across the continent this season have a pedigree and strong support from state governments and sponsors.”
“We all know the management of Enyimba, Rivers United and Bendel Insurance. And as for Remo Stars, we won’t fail when the time comes, because we were here last season and the experience gained will be useful for our second appearance,” said the President of Remo Stars.
Soname also revealed that it’s not true that Remo Stars doesn’t have a women’s team.
“We have the Remo Stars Ladies who just qualified from the amateur league team to the first division.
“I don’t think many people knew that. Keep your eyes peeled as the new season begins as the women’s Remo Stars will be just as competitive as their male counterparts and set an example of what a professional women’s soccer team will be like.
Nigeria will be represented by champions of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Enyimba of Aba and second placed Remo Stars of Ikenne in the CAF Champions League, while third placed Rivers United and Federation Cup winners Bendel Insurance of Benin City will do battle in the CAF Confederation Cup respectively.
Enyimba FC have a women’s team known as Abia Angels, Rivers United have Rivers Angels while Bendel Insurance of Benin City have Edo Queens.
Meanwhile, in the draw conducted by CAF on Tuesday in Cairo, Egypt, Enyimba FC are to face Libya’s Al-Ahly Benghazi in the opening round of the CAF Champions League which kicks off on 18-19 of August, 2023.
The Ghanaians will host the first leg in the weekend of 18 -19 August. Remo Stars will host the second leg in Ikenne on either 25 or 26 August.
Federation Cup winners, Bendel Insurance are facing Algeria’s ASO Chlef in the preliminary round while Rivers United who are seeded will face the winner of the tie between Ziguinchor/Etoile Filante preliminary round tie.
