Nigeria’s representatives in the 2023/2024 CAF Champions League, Enyimba International Football Club of Aba and Remo Stars of Ikenne have been drawn to face clubs from Libya and Ghana respectively.
The draw was held in Cairo on Tuesday, with representatives of the 54 participating clubs drawn from 42 member-nations in attendance.
It has those paired together participating in the first preliminary stage, and Enyimba who are the reigning Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) champions will face Libyan side Ahli Benghazi.
Enyimba already have a glimpse of what to expect from Libyan teams, having been ousted during their last participation in CAF inter-club competitions by Al-Ittihad in the knockout phase.
On the other hand, Remo Stars who are debuting in the competition will be wrestling it out with Ghana league leaders Medeama for a progression to the second stage in the Champions League.
The winners between Enyimba and Ahli Benghazi will get a chance to face either Benin Republic-based Cotonsports or Asec Mimosa from Côte d’Ivoire in the second preliminary round.
Should Remo Stars defeat their Ghanaian opponents, they will face Guinean side Horoya, in the second stage.
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The first round matches are scheduled for Aug. 18 to Aug. 20.
In the CAF Confederation Cup preliminary draw, Nigeria’s Federation Cup winners Bendel Insurance of Benin are pitched against Algerian side ASO Chlef.
Should they win, the Nigerian side will face another north African side, RS Berkane of Morocco in the second stage.
This is the first time in a long while that Bendel Insurance are getting a chance to compete on the continent.
For Rivers United who have been regulars in the CAF inter-club competitions in the last three seasons, they drew bye in the preliminary round.
They head into the second round where they play the winners of the pairing of Etoile Filante of Burkina Faso and Ziguinchor of Senegal.
NAN
