Simba, Yanga handed kind CAF Champions League draw as Gor Mahia miss out

© Simba. Yanga (Facebook)

FOOTBALL Simba, Yanga handed kind CAF Champions League draw as Gor Mahia miss out

Imran Otieno • 15:25 - 25.07.2023

The opening leg of the First Preliminary Round is slated between 18-20 August while the second leg is scheduled for 25-27 August.

Tanzanian giants Simba and Yanga SC were recipients of fair draws in the CAF Champions League First and Second Preliminary Round matches with Kenyan representatives Gor Mahia being locked out.

Record Kenyan champions Gor Mahia were expelled from the draw last week after failing to settle the dues of former players which led to the revocation of their club licensing certificate.

Last season’s quarter finalists Simba were handed a bye in the First Preliminary Round due to their high coefficient ranking after three quarter final appearances since 2019.

This now means that Simba will face the winner between Zambian giants Power Dynamos and Namibian outfit African Stars in the Second Preliminary Round clash.

2023 Confederation Cup finalists Yanga commence their campaign in the First Round with a date against Djiboutian side AS Ali Sabieh Djibouti Télécom.

CAF Champions League Preliminary Round draw

Should Yanga win the clash they will face either Sudanese club El Merreikh or Congo Brazzaville side AS Otoho.

Reigning and record champions Al Ahly from Egypt will take on the winner between KMKM of Zanzibar and Ethiopian heavyweights St George in the Second Round.

South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns will also begin the tournament in the Second Round and will face the winner between Bendje of Gabon or Bumamuru from Burundi.

The opening leg of the First Preliminary Round is slated between 18-20 August while the second leg is scheduled for 25-27 August.

The Second Preliminary Round will take place on 15-17 September while the return leg is penciled from 29 September to 1 October.