Happening in Cairo, Egypt, the TotalEnergies CAF Confederations Cup draw has gone underway. Football Kenya Federation Champions Tusker FC are set to face Last year's Confederation Cup runners-up CS Sfaxien from Tunisia while Gor Mahia will take on AS Otoho from Congo in the second preliminary round of the competition.
Tusker FC starts at home against Sfaxien on 28th November while Gor Mahia will have their first kickoff away vs As Otoho of Congo. Tusker dropped to the Confederation Cup after a 5-0 aggregate loss to Egyptian giants Zamalek SC in the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions League while Gor Mahia progressed in the Confederation Cup after a walkover against Al Ahli Merowe of Sudan.
Gor had beaten Merowe 3-1 in the first leg played in Suez but the Sudanese side failed to travel to Nairobi for the second leg that had been scheduled for Sunday. Gor Mahia will now be looking to edge out AS Otoho of Congo Brazzaville.
Earlier on, Gor Mahia assistant coach Sammy 'Pamzo' Omollo says they are ready for any rival who will be thrown into their path in the final preliminary stage of the Caf Confederation Cup. Omollo has tipped his charges to prove their mettle in the cut-throat continental showpiece, saying their stellar performance in the second preliminary stage justified their presence in the competition.
"Judging by the recent league encounters, it's all too obvious we have grown in bounds and our players can match any opponent who will come our way," said Pamzo. "Obviously, we are expecting some stiff competition in the next stage of the competition. We will continue to train hard for positive results, of course in the full knowledge that victory won't come easy. We already have a rough idea of the teams we are likely to encounter but I can assure you none of them is unbeatable," he added.
The tactician said the side had overcome the tragedy that befell them at the end of the preceding season when some of their luminaries bolted out in a huff owing to glaring pay disputes. "We had hoped to delve deeper into the transfer market for more players, but I believe the crop we currently have are worth their salt, judging by the kind of performances they have put in thus far," said Omollo.
The first leg matches will be played between 26-28 November with the return fixtures set for a week later.
Orlando Pirates, Enyimba FC and TP Mazembe were all handed a comfortable draw. Pirates were pitted against Liberian champions LPRC Oilers. The Buccaneers, who reached the 2015 Confederation Cup final, eliminated Congo-Brazzaville club Diables Noirs in the second round tie. Meanwhile, Mazembe will face another South African side in Marumo Gallants after being eliminated from the Caf Champions League by AmaZulu FC.
The DR Congolese champions will be seeking redemption, but Gallants will be oozing with confidence having stunned Mazembe's DR Congolese rivals, AS Vita Club in the previous round.
The 16 winners on aggregate will progress to the group stage.
Full Draw:
LPRC Oilers (Liberia) vs Orlando Pirates (South Africa)
TP Mazembe (DR Congo) vs Marumo Gallants (South Africa)
Marumo Gallants (South Africa)
Hearts of Oak (Ghana) vs JS Saoura (Algeria)
Rivers United (Nigeria) vs Al Masry (Egypt)
Al Ittihad (Libya) vs Enyimba (Nigeria)
Tusker (Kenya) vs CS Sfaxien (Tunisia)
Royal Leopards vs JS Kabylie (Algeria)
Stade Malien vs Biashara United (Tanzania) or Al Ahli SC (Libya)
Gor Mahia (Kenya) vs AS Otoho (Congo-Brazzaville)
Zanaco FC (Zambia) v Binga FC (Mali)
Simba SC (Tanzania) v Red Arrows (Zambia)
ASEC Mimosas (Ivory Coast) v Interclube (Angola)
AS Maniema Union (DR Congo) vs Pyramids (Egypt)
Nouadhibou (Mauritania) v Cotonsport (Cameroun)
US Gendarmerie Nationale (Niger) v DC Motema Pembe (DR Congo)
APR (Rwanda) v RS Berkane (Morocco)