Al Ahly to begin Champions League defence against Niger’s AS SONDIEP

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) confirmed the matches of the second preliminary round of the Champions League following the conclusion of the first round.

TOPSHOT – This picture shows the trophy prior to the draw of the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) Champions league at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Cairo on December 28, 2018. (Photo by MOHAMED EL-SHAHED / AFP) (Photo credit should read MOHAMED EL-SHAHED/AFP/Getty Images)

16 matches are scheduled to take place with the aggregate winners qualifying for the group stage while the losers move to the Confederation Cup play-offs.

Record nine-time winners Al Ahly will begin the defence of their title away against Niger’s AS SONIDEP in the first leg and beaten finalists Zamalek will do the same against Gazelle of Chad.

The pick of the matches will see two-time winners Wydad Athletic Club play Stade Malien of Mali and Kaizer Chiefs of South Africa face Primeiro de Agosto of Angola. Asante Kotoko (Ghana) will take on Al Hilal (Sudan) while Nkana (Zambia) play Petro Atletico (Angola).

2019 semi-finalists Raja Casablanca face Teungueth FC (Senegal), RC Abidjan (Cote d’Ivoire) will play Horoya AC (Guinea).

Elsewhere, Kenyan champions Gor Mahia play CR Belouizdad (Algeria) and FC Platinum (Zimbabwe) tackles Tanzanian giants Simba S.C.

Al Ahly Benghazi (Libya) will face Tunisian giants Esperance and five-time winners TP Mazembe of DR Congo will play AS Bouenguidi (Gabon).

Other matches: Jwaneng Galaxy (Botswana) vs Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa); Young Buffaloes (Eswatini) vs AS Vita Club (DR Congo); El Merriekh (Sudan) vs Enyimba (Nigeria).

The winner of the first-round preliminary round match between MC Alger (Algeria) and Buffles du Borgou will face CS Sfaxien (Tunisia).

The two clubs were due to play the second leg of their qualifier on December 4, but the match was postponed because Buffles failed to make it to Algiers in time for the game due to the unavailability of flights.

CAF’s Organizing Committee for Interclub Competitions is set to deliberate the matter on the match and announce a decision.