Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) clubs; Enyimba, Kano Pillars and Niger Tornadoes have been drawn against tough oppositions in the opening rounds of the 2019/20 CAF continental competitions, reports www.aclsports.com
The draws for the preceding rounds to the group phase of both Champions League and Confederation Cup were released on Sunday with only Rangers (in the Confederation Cup) given bye from the first elimination stage among all four Nigerian representatives.
Nigerian League winners Enyimba will face Rahimo FC of Burkina Faso in the first round of elimination with the People’s Elephant hosting the second leg in Aba. Enyimba may however face Sudanese giants Al Hilal in the next round if the East Africans can beat Rayon Sports of Rwanda.
Nigeria’s other Champions League representatives Kano Pillars have an even tougher schedule to negotiate. They will face Ghanaian champions Asante Kotoko in the first round with Tunisia’s Etoile du Sahel their likely opponents in the second round.
Niger Tornadoes who will be playing on the continent by the virtue of their Aiteo Cup final showing are drawn to face Santoba Conakry of Guinea in the first round with victory earning them a place against FC San Pedro of Coted’voire in the next round.
Rangers International of Enugu have a bye from the first round due to their impressive record on the continent last season and will face the winner of the tie between AS Pelican (Gabon) and AS Maniema Union (DR Congo) in the second round. The second leg will be at the Nnamdi Azikwe Stadium in Enugu.
The first leg matches of round 1 will hold on the weekend of August 9 while the second leg games are scheduled for midweek of August 23rd or 24th.
