Kwara United officials have expressed optimism about hosting their CAF Confederation Cup home fixture against Ghanaian giants Asante Kotoko in Ilorin, despite ongoing uncertainty over the approval of the Rashidi Yekini Stadium.

The club's media officer, Ayodeji Ismail, told PUNCH Sports Extra on Tuesday that renovation work at the stadium is advancing rapidly and that a formal inspection by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) is expected shortly.

"If things work out for us, we should be playing at home because renovation is going on massively," Ismail said.

He confirmed that key facilities, including dressing rooms and ancillary infrastructure, are being upgraded to meet continental standards.

"We're working hard to ensure everything is in place. For now, we remain hopeful that CAF will approve the stadium and allow us to play in front of our fans in Ilorin," he added.

According to Ismail, the facility has not yet been inspected by CAF and the last assessment was conducted by Nigeria Football Federation officials about a month ago, just before the start of the domestic league season.

"They told us some of the things we needed to do so that the stadium can meet CAF standards.

"We immediately swung into action and corrections are ongoing. We are waiting for the next CAF visit, although we don't know when that will be."

Kwara United General Manager Bashir Badawiy also confirmed to our correspondent that the club is in regular contact with the NFF, stressing that the venue decision would be communicated publicly in coming days.

The uncertainty over Ilorin comes as fellow Nigerian continental representatives Remo Stars have already secured approval to play their CAF Champions League fixtures at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta, with the club publicly confirming the venue on social media on Tuesday.

The Harmony Boys are reportedly linked with a move to Abeokuta after failing to get last-minute approval for their Ilorin stadium.

The PUNCH previously reported that the state governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq pledged government backing to ensure the stadium in Ilorin is ready in time during a recent inspection visit and said his administration was determined to avoid the team being forced to relocate.

"The stadium is not approved yet, but we want to meet the standards before the inspection team comes from CAF.

"We are making sure that work is being done with urgency so we pass the inspection. We do not want our supporters and team playing in Lagos or Abuja," the governor said.

Kwara United, winners of the 2025 Federation Cup, are due to face Kotoko in the first preliminary round of the Confederation Cup.

The two-legged tie rekindles one of West Africa's fiercest rivalries. Kotoko, two-time African champions, will host the first leg in Kumasi September 21, before the return fixture in Nigeria the following week on September 28.

The winners will advance to face Morocco's Wydad Casablanca in the next round.

Kwara United are making their third appearance in the competition and the chance to host in Ilorin would provide a significant boost both for players and supporters.

Ismail said the club would communicate transparently with fans once CAF's final decision is known.

"If there is any report concerning where we are going to play, it is going to come from our media department. We are hopeful we will play in Ilorin, but if otherwise, we will come out openly to inform everyone," he explained.