Super Eagles and Rivers United left-back, Ebube Duru, has exclusively told Completesports.com that the Pride of Rivers are proud of their performance in the 2023 Total CAF Confederation Cup competition.
The Nigerian Champions reached the knockout stages of the CAF second-tier club competition despite losing their last Group B match away to Asec Mimosas of Ivory Coast last weekend.
Mofosse Karidioula’s second-minute strike proved enough for the former CAF Champions League winners to cruise to the Group B summit with 13 points, leaving the Nigerian champions in the second spot with 10 points.
Duru reckons that his team fought a good battle to keep their heads up in the championship, reaching the quarter-finals for the first time in five years by any Nigerian club.
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The wing-back believes that it was a huge performance by Stanley Eguma’s side, moreso as they have salvaged a measure of respect for Nigerian football, the NPFL and the Port Harcourt club in particular.
“I’m proud of our performance so far in the championship,” Duru told Completesports.com.
“I’m also proud of our entire team, players, coaching, staff and management.
“It was a difficult fight but we were determined, committed and worked hard for it.”
He added: “It’s a thing of joy that being the only Nigerian club remaining on the continent out of four, we were able to navigate our way through the tough terrain to reach the last eight.
“I think this is the first time in five years a Nigerian club would reach this (last four) stage in the competition and it is a good advertisement for Nigerian football, the Nigerian league and Rivers United as a club, ” Duru concluded.
The Draw for the quarter-finals of the 2023 CAF Confederation Cup would be conducted in Cairo, Egypt, on Thursday, April 6. And Duru insists that Rivers United have primed for success this term in their search for a parting trophy gift to their motivativator and outgoing Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike.
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“There are three trophies we aimed at this season, ” Duru continued.
“We have the continental trophy, the domestic league (which we are the defending champions) and the Aiteo Cup.
“Our objective is to ensure we delivered a trophy as a ‘parting gift’ to our Governor, His Excellency, Nyesom Wike, for his support, motivation and encouragement.
“He made sure that there’s nothing we needed that he never provided for us. And we now aim to reciprocate that with at least a trophy for him as his tenure winds up.
“As for our likely opponents in the quarter-finals, we ain’t losing sleep over that. We’ll be up to any team the draws throw at us.
“To be the champion, you must fight tough battles. We’ll only respect our opponents but can’t fret over any opponent”.
Duru has previously had career spells at Lobi Stars among other clubs and is only one of the few NPFL players that have delighted the national team’s selectors.
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He had been involved in the Super Eagles B Team, otherwise referred to as the Home-based Eagles.
He has equally featured for the U23 national team, the Olympic Eagles and has also been capped by the Super Eagles.
But despite this seeming rising career profile, the Ikembara, Ikeduru, Imo State-born defender insists he’s always working hard to be a better player.
“I keep working hard every day to be a better player, ” Duru said Wednesday afternoon before his club’s semi-final match in the Rivers State FA Cup.
“Even when I didn’t play well in the previous game, I quickly put it behind me and enter the training session to get better.
“I’m always determined to work hard, and become a better player and hope that my efforts be spotted by National Team selectors and possibly get an opportunity to play in Europe.”
By Sab Osuji
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