The chase for African football supremacy begins this week as the Confederation of African Football (CAF) launches the 2024/25 season of its premier club competitions. The TotalEnergies CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup will both commence with preliminary rounds, Nigeriasoccernet.com writes.
The first leg of the preliminary round will take place between August 16-18, followed by the return leg on August 23-25. The second preliminary round is scheduled for September 13-15 (first leg) and September 20-22 (return leg).
Defending champions Al Ahly SC, Esperance Sportive de Tunis, and Mamelodi Sundowns have been granted exemptions from the first preliminary round of the Champions League due to their high rankings. Similarly, the top 12 ranked clubs in the Confederation Cup, including reigning champions Zamalek SC, will bypass the initial round.
The early stages of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup promise exciting matchups as clubs across Africa vie for a place in the group stages.
In the Champions League, Tanzanian champions Young Africans face Vital'O FC of Burundi, while Egypt's Pyramids FC take on JKU SC of Zanzibar. Former champions Orlando Pirates FC will battle Disciples FC of Madagascar.
The Confederation Cup features intriguing clashes such as Zesco United (Zambia) against Dynamos FC (Zimbabwe), UTS (Morocco) versus RS Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire), and Nsoatreman FC (Ghana) hosting TP Elect Sport (Chad).
Fans of African football can anticipate thrilling encounters as teams strive to advance to the next round and ultimately compete for continental glory.
Credit: CAF