Rivers United, Nigeria’s only surviving team in this season’s continental competitions, will face CAF Confederation Cup holders, USM Alger of Algeria in the quarterfinals of the tournament.
According to the draw made in Cairo, the Egyptian capital, on Tuesday, Rivers United will host the first leg on 31st March, while the reverse fixture will take place on 7th April.
The Port Harcourt outfit hope to become the first Nigerian winners of an African competition since Enyimba defeated Hearts of Oak 2-0 after extra time to lift the CAF Super Cup in 2005.
From the second round where they started the competition this season, Rivers won all four home matches to make the last eight, but were less impressive on the road with only one victory, a draw and two losses.
Dreams of Ghana, who topped Group C in which Rivers finished runners-up, will meet Stade Malien of Mali in a West African affair.
Modern Future will face Zamalek in an Egyptian derby while Abu Salim of Libya take on Renaissance Berkane of Morocco in a north African showdown.
The Confederation Cup is the African equivalent of the UEFA Europa League.
Rivers reached the quarterfinals for the second straight season, while Future were eliminated at the group stage last year.
Dreams and Salim qualified for the quarterfinals at the first attempt in a competition dominated by north African clubs with 15 victories in 20 finals.
That trend could continue with Zamalek, Berkane and USM looking the strongest of the eight survivors.
Berkane, the 2020 and 2022 winners, boast the only unbeaten record among the title hopefuls with five victories and three draws from qualifying and group games.
1/4 final draw
Modern Future (Egypt) v Zamalek (Egypt)
Abu Salim (Libya) v Renaissance Berkane (Morocco)
Rivers United (Nigeria) v USM Alger (Algeria)
Stade Malien (Mali) v Dreams (Ghana)
First legs: 31st March; second legs: 7th April
Semi-final draw
Rivers United/USM Alger v Abu Salim/Renaissance Berkane
Modern Future/Zamalek v Stade Malien/Dreams
First legs: 21st April; second legs: 28th April
