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By Abiodun Adewale.
Akwaaba in Ghana means welcome, and for many fans of Rivers United, the acquisition of Ghanaian import and attacking midfielder, Paul Acquah, has been a welcome development, as he has been in incredible form for the Nigeria Professional Football League champions in this year’s CAF Confederation Cup, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Acquah has been bagging the goals for Rivers United in the second-tier CAF inter-club competition, which has fired the club to the top of their group.
The 27-year-old scored a hat-trick against Motema Pembe last Thursday in Uyo to help Stanley Eguma’s side complete the double over the Congolese side and also maintain their grip for qualification in Group B, which also has Ivorian giants ASEC Mimosas and Diable Noirs.
After scoring in Rivers’ hard-fought 1-0 win over Motema Pembe in the first leg in Angola, Acquah now has four goals in four CAF Confederation Cup group stage games plus another goal against El Nasr Benghazi during the preliminaries.
Acquah’s superb form on the continent sees him sit on five goals in the competition, one goal behind Fakhreddine Ben Youssef of Pyramids who has six goals.
The Ghanaian is Rivers United’s highest goal scorer on the continent so far this season with seven goals, having also scored twice during their ill-fated preliminary campaign in the CAF Champions League where he scored against Watanga and Wydad Casablanca.
Acquah, who joined Rivers United in 2021, having featured for Hearts of Oak in the Ghana Premier League as well as other clubs, is thrilled by his form in the competition.
“The feeling is good for every player when you’re doing well for your club and yourself,” Acquah told PUNCH Sports Extra.
“At this point I also believe anything is possible, so, I have to work hard to achieve what I want. I believe we can go far and it’s our dream to even go as far as winning the competition and I hope to keep helping the club, so, we can all set the record for Rivers United.
“Every player is dreaming of winning something at the end of the season and we are still very much in contention in the league and we will also aim on the continent. We won the league last year, so we can defend the title and even add a new trophy,” Acquah said.
Acknowledging the impact of Acquah, Chairman, Rivers United Supporters Club, Franklin Owhor, said, “It’s not a surprise to me that he is in superb form. Just like other players in the team, he has been putting in the effort and we are enjoying the results.
“Since he joined, he has proven to be a player that the club needs. We hope to see more goals and I’m sure all the other players will keep up the tempo.”
With nine points in four matches, Rivers United hold a two-point gap ahead of ASEC Mimosas in Group B and they are in pole position to qualify for the next round of the competition if they secure a win in their next match against Diable Noirs on Sunday in Uyo.
Progress for Rivers United in the competition will mean more money for the NPFL champions just as it helps to sustain the number of teams Nigeria will parade on the continent in subsequent seasons.
From the available information about CAF’s increased prize money for the competition in 2020, Rivers United will get $350,000 for making the quarter-finals, and could receive $1,250,000 if they emerge champions.
