In the draws for Africa’s two continental club competitions held on Monday in Cairo, 2017 NPFL Champions Plateau United were handed a tough draw against Tanzanian side Simba SC in the preliminary round of the CAF Champions League (CAFCL).
Former Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) champions Plateau United and Kano Pillars have been handed tough routes in their aspirations for continental glory next season, www.aclsports.com reports.
Two-time Champions League winners Enyimba will, for the second season running face Burkina Faso champions Rahimo FC in their first match of the competition. Enyimba defeated Rahimo 5-1 on aggregate at this stage last season.
Should Plateau go past Simba, a date with either Costa do Sol of Mozambique or FC Platinum of Zimbabwe awaits them in the penultimate round before the group stage while Enyimba would likely face Sudanese giants El Merreikh who faces Congolese banana peel AS Otoho.
In the Confederation Cup, 2005 beating finalists, Rivers United were handed an easy tie against Futuro Kings of Equatorial Guinea while Kano Pillars have a slightly more difficult task against ASC Jaraaf of Senegal.
Should United (as expected) scale the Futuro hurdle, they will face the winner of the tie between Congolese side AS Maniema and South African side Bloemfontein Celtics. For Pillars, they have an easier task on paper should they beat Jaraaf as they will be rewarded with a clash with Ivorian side FC San Pedro.
The first leg matches of the preliminary round in both competitions will hold on the weekend of November 27-29 while the return leg matches will hold a week later: weekend of December 4-6, 2020.
