CAF draws out
Written by Millennium on July 23, 2019
MUKWIMA CHILALA writes
@SunZambian
THE Confederation of African Football (CAF) draws for both the Champions League and Confederation Cup were conducted on Sunday evening released in Cairo with three of Zambia’s representatives getting preliminary rounds.
In the CAF Champions League, Green Eagles have been pitted against South African giants Orlando Pirates.
Eagles will be making a debut in the elite competition having featured in the Confederation Cup last season where they were eliminated by Algerian side NA Huseindey via a 2-1 aggregate scoreline.
Orlando Pirates have been perpetual participants in the competition having won the 1995 edition and later losing out in the finals to Egyptian giants Al Haly in the 2013 edition.
Pirates could be familiar with Eagles system of play as they have three Zambians on their books in Justin Shonga, Augustine Mulenga and new acquisition from Nkana Austin Muwowo.
The South African giants last season went as far as the group stages of the competition before being eliminated after finishing with six points in Group B.
Eagles will be counting on their Cecafa Kagame Cup experience were the team finished third in the tournament.
The 2019 league runner up will host Orlando Pirates before traveling to South Africa for the return leg.
In other draws, eight-time Zambian League champions, Zesco United will be seeking redemption having bowed out in the second round of last season’s campaign when they lost 2-1 on aggregate against Congolese giants TP Mazembe.
The Zambian champions have been drawn against Eswatini’s Green Mambas.
The 2016 semi-finalist will be away in the first leg and will hope to wrap it up against the Mambas when they host them at the gigantic Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.
In the CAF Confederation Cup, debutants, Buildcon, will kick start their African football expedition with Eswatini, side, Young Buffaloes.
Young buffaloes are making a return to Zambia for a second season running having faced Green eagles last season who eliminated 5-2 on aggregate.
Zambia’s other envoy ZANACO will be on bye during the preliminary round and will join the competition in the second of qualification.
Zanaco is likely to face either Mauritius’ Bolton CYC or Jwaneng Galaxy Football Club of Botswana.
The first leg for the first round of the preliminary stage will take place on August 11-13 with the return leg set for 23-25 in the same month.
The first leg matches for the second round will take place on September 15- 17 while the second leg matches are set for 27-29 in the same month.
