By Victor Kanayo
Continental soccer body, CAF, will on Tuesday, July 25, 2023, stage the preliminary draws of the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup for the 2023/24 football season.
This was disclosed via a press statement on CAF official website.
Part of the statement reads, “The preliminary stages draw will be conducted on Tuesday, 25 July 2023 at 14h00 Cairo time (11h00 GMT) at the CAF Headquarters starting with the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup and followed closely by TotalEnergies CAF Champions live across all CAF TV Partners, CAF official website CAFONLINE.COM and the official CAF YouTube Channel, CAF TV.
“54 clubs from 42 Member Associations are engaged in this season’s TotalEnergies CAF Champions League, while 52 clubs representing 41 Member Associations will compete in the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup.
“CAF Interclub competitions, including the CAF Women’s Champions League have shown tremendous growth over the last few seasons, thanks to CAF’s increased investment in broadcast technology and global marketing engagement across its competitions.
“Last season’s finals of both competitions saw record-breaking viewership numbers and attendance, with this trend expected to increase and filter down into the knockout and group stages of both competitions as the appetite for premium African football content continues to be on the rise globally.
“Egypt’s Al Ahly are the current holders of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League after their fiercely contested victory over Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca. At the same time, USM Alger of Algeria hold the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup title after overcoming Tanzania’s Young Africans in one of the tournament’s most memorable finals.”
In Nigeria, Enyimba FC and and Remo Stars booked Champions League places at the end of last season, while Rivers United and Benin Insurance will fly the country’s flag at the Confederation Cup.