Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) champions Remo Stars will face US Zilimadjou, winners of the Comoros Premier League, in the first preliminary round of the CAF Champions League.
Runners-up Rivers United will meet the top team from the Democratic Republic of Congo, as Nigerian clubs were given challenging fixtures in the draws for the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup held on Saturday at the Azam Media Studios in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Remo Stars and Rivers United qualified for the Champions League as NPFL champions and runners-up, while Abia Warriors, who finished third, will compete in the Confederation Cup alongside Kwara United, winners of the President Federation Cup.
Remo Stars, who have exited in the first preliminary round in previous attempts, will host US Zilimadjou in Ikenne before travelling to Comoros for the second leg. If they win, they will face South Africa’s dominant side, Mamelodi Sundowns, in the second round for a place in the lucrative group stage.
Rivers United will travel to DR Congo for the first leg against their yet-to-be-confirmed opponents, as the domestic league there is still ongoing. In the second round, they will play either AC Leopard of Congo or Black Bulls of Mozambique.
No Nigerian club has reached the CAF Champions League group stage since the 2019/2020 season.
In the CAF Confederation Cup, Kwara United will take on Asante Kotoko of Ghana, starting away in Kumasi before the return leg in Nigeria. A win will set up a clash with Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca, three-time Champions League winners.
Abia Warriors, making their Confederation Cup debut, will face Mali’s Djoliba AC, hosting the first leg before travelling to Bamako. Victory would pit them against either USFA of Burkina Faso or AS Gbohloe SU of Togo in the second round.
The first preliminary round matches will be played between 19–21 September and 26–28 September, while the second round will take place between 17–19 October and 24–26 October. The group stage of both competitions will begin in November.
