Nigeria’s two representatives in the CAF Confederation Cup, Shooting Stars of Ibadan and El Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri were handed opponents in the draw made yesterday for the First Preliminary Round opening legs to be played from September 4th to 6th , with the return matches scheduled for September 11th to 13th. All the 56 competing clubs learned their path to the Group Stages at the draw yesterday. The teams will begin their pursuit of one of African football’s most prestigious trophies and the USD 4 million prize awaiting the eventual champions. Clubs eliminated during the preliminary stage will each receive a USD 100,000 solidarity payment from CAF to assist with travel and other logistical costs. Shooting Stars who will play their continental matches at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne will kickoff their campaign against Tunisia’s CS Sfaxien home and away in the first preliminary round. If the Oluyole Warriors succeed in advancing against CS Sfaxien, they will meet either AF Amadou Diallo of Côte d’Ivoire or Sierra Leone’s East End Lions in the second preliminary round. Similarly, Nigeria’s other representatives in the CAF Confederation Cup, El Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri have been scheduled to play UDIB of Guinea-Bissau in the first preliminary round. If the Warriors from Borno succeed, they will face stiffer challenge in Morocco giants Raja Casablanca in the second preliminary round. Raja were drawn bye in the first round. The Second Preliminary Round will begin from October 16th-18th, before the decisive return legs are staged from October 23rd-25th. Continental giants Al Ahly will face either Somali or Ugandan opposition after the draw for the first two Preliminary Rounds in the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup 2026/27 was made on Thursday. Among the most eye-catching potential ties is 12-time TotalEnergies CAF Champions League winners Al Ahly’s clash with either Mogadishu CC from Somalia or Kitara FC of Uganda. They will await to see who wins that First Preliminary Round tie. Defending champions USM Alger have been handed a bye and will enter against either The Panthers FC of Equatorial Guinea or Benin’s ASPAC FC. The Algerian giants claimed their second TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup crown last season and will be among the leading contenders as they seek to defend the title. Moroccan heavyweights AS FAR will meet either Chad’s AS PSI or Côte d’Ivoire’s CO Korhogo. The eight highest ranked clubs have received byes into the Second Preliminary Round, while the other 48 teams will contest 24 two-legged ties in the opening stage. The 24 winners will join the eight exempted clubs to create a 32-team Second Preliminary Round, from which the 16 victorious sides will advance to the group stages. Elsewhere, Enugu Rangers International and Rivers United will represent Nigeria in the CAF Champions League.
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