- The two sides were exempted from the first round
- They start off with home ties
- Wydad are seeking back to back titles
Last season’s finalists in the CAF Champions League Wydad Athletic Club and Al Ahly will start their respective campaigns in the new season this weekend, having been exempted from the first round by virtue of their ranking.
Wydad ended back to back dominance by Egypt’s Ahly, beating them 2-0 in last season’s final played in Casablanca. And now, the two are seeking to earn positive starts, though it is expected they will earn group stage tickets.
Wydad will start off their campaign away to Rivers United of Nigeria. Wydad clinched the title last season after victory over holders Al Ahly and with a new coach, they will be keen to make it back-to-back titles.
Walid Regragui, the man who led them to the crown last term, has been replaced by Houcine Ammouta. They have had a good start in the Botola Pro and are currently top of the standings after four matches with three wins and a draw.
Nigeria’s Rivers progressed to the second round after edging out Liberia’s Watanga FC 3-1 and they will be tasked with a mammoth task, taking out the defending champions.
Ahly looking to start campaign on a high
Al Ahly players celebrate their victory
Meanwhile, Egyptian giants, record champions Ahly will come up against Tunisia’s Monastir in a North African derby. Ahly were exempted from the first preliminary round and they will start the journey to battle for the title back in Tunisia.
New coach Marcel Koller, who is just a month into his tenure will be under pressure to ensure Ahly return to continental success.
“We are facing a tricky tie but we will do our best to ensure we start our campaign on a high,” said Koller, as he prepared his side for the duel.
For the tie, he will miss the services of South African winger Percy Tau who is injured, but he should have plenty of cover.
Monastir who finished second in the Tunisian league last season will be keen to ensure they also put up a performance to remember, and winning at home will be key in their targets.
They progressed to the second round after edging out Rwanda’s APR 3-1 on aggregate.
Cape Town City play Petro
Petro players celebrate their goal against Sundowns
Meanwhile in another interesting set of first round tie, South African side Cape Town City will take on last season’s semi-finalists Petro de Luanda.
The 16-time Angolan Girabola champions will be looking to replicate their splendid performance, having reached the semis last season, losing to Champions Wydad.
Comprehensive back-to-back wins in their first two games of their Angolan league title defense have boosted their confidence and they will be out to ensure a ticket to the group phase.
They progressed to this round after edging out Mozambican champions Black Bulls 5-1.
Meanwhile, South Africa’s Cape Town are looking to punch a ticket to the group stages and putting up a shocker against Petro will be a huge statement. It will be yet another South Africa-Angola rivalry, coming just a few weeks after the Angolan national team beat Bafana Bafana in the final qualification round of the TotalEnergies Africa Nations Championship.
Cape Town earned a ticket to this round after beating Congo’s AS Otoho d’Oyo 2-0 on aggregate.
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