Nigeria’s representatives in the 2018/19 continental competitions of the Confederation of African Football (CAF); Lobi Stars and Enugu Rangers now know their opponents in the next stage of their respective tournaments.
In the Total CAF Champions League, representative Lobi Stars were drawn against three former champions in Group A of the competition. The Pride of Benue will face 2017 champions Wydad Casablanca, 2016 Champions Mamelodi Sundowns and 1998 winners ASEC Mimosas.
The Nigerians will face Sundowns in their opening group game on the weekend of January 12 at home before traveling to ASEC in their second group game. They will then face Wydad Casablanca in a double header on Match Day 3 and 4.
In the Total CAF Confederation Cup, Nigerian Cup kings Enugu Rangers were handed a kind draw in the playoff round of the competition as they were drawn against Lesotho league champions Bantu FC.
Rangers are unbeaten in this year’s Confederation Cup and they dispatched Algerian Cup champions USM Bel Abbés 2-0 on aggregate in their first round tie to stretch their unbeaten run to four games while Bantu FC dropped down from the Champions League after a 2-5 aggregate loss to Congolese side AS Vita Club.
Gbenga Ogunbote’s Flying Antelopes will travel to the Setsoto Stadium in Maseru for the first leg of the encounter on January 13 before entertaining Bantu in the return leg at the Nnamdi Azikwe Stadium, Enugu a week later. Winners over two legs will go through to the group stage of the Confederation Cup.
Champions League group stage draws
Group A
Lobi Stars
Wydad Casablanca
ASEC Mimosas
Mamelodi Sundowns
Group B
FC Platinum
Horoya AC
Esperance Tunis
Orlando Pirates
Group C
TP Mazembe
Club Africain
CS Constantine
Ismaily SC
Group D
Al Ahly SC
Simba SC
JS Saoura
AS Vita Club
