CBE to debut against SC Villa in TotalEnergies CAF Champions League

Fresh from winning their first ever Ethiopia Premier League title, Commercial Bank of Ethiopia FC (CBE) will face SC Villa (Uganda) in the 1^st preliminary round of the 2024/2025 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.

While CBE will be making their debut in the continental tournament when the preliminary round kicks off August 16-18^th with the first leg, SC Villa will also be returning to the table of men after over 20 years.

The other pairings between teams from the CECAFA Zone when the draw was conducted in Cairo, Egypt on Thursday will see other debutants Al Merriekh Bentiu from South Sudan take on Gor Mahia FC (Kenya), while Arta Solar FC (Djibouti) face Somalia’s Dekehada FC.

Vital’O FC who lifted Burundi’s Premier League title after over six years again, will face an acid test against Young African’s SC (Tanzania) who reached the quarter final last season. Another tough contest expected in the Zone will be between Azam FC (Tanzania) battle Rwanda giants APR FC.

Zanzibar’s JKU SC are not expected to have an easy task either when they play Pyramids FC from Egypt, while the Sudan sides Al Hilal and El Merriekh will take on teams from Libya who are yet not decided since the play-offs are being played in Italy.

The top teams according to ranking Al Ahly, Espérance de Tunis, Mamelodi Sundowns, Atlético Petroleos and TP Mazembe were exempted from preliminary round.

The second preliminary round will see the winner between Al Merriekh Bentiu and Gor Mahia encounter the reigning champions Al Ahly (Egypt), while FA Tunis awaits the winner between Arta Solar and Dekadaha FC.

Incase Young Africans go past Vital’O in the first preliminary round, they will take on the winner between SC Villa and Commercial Bank of Ethiopia FC. The winner between Azam FC and APR will also await the winner between JKU SC and Pyramids.

The 16 winners of the second round will advance to the group stage. But for starters the first preliminary matches will be played August 16-18 for the first leg, while the second leg takes place August 23-25^th. The second round of the preliminary round is scheduled for September 13-15 for the first leg matches and September 20-22 for the return legs.

Preliminary Round First Leg Matches of the Champions League

M1 & 2: El Merreikh (South Sudan) vs. Gor Mahia (Kenya)

M3 & 4: Arta Solar (Djibouti) vs. Dekadaha (Somalia)

M5 & 6: SC Villa (Uganda) vs. Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (Ethiopia)

M7 & 8: Vital’O FC (Burundi) vs. Young Africans (Tanzania)

M9 & 10: Azam FC (Tanzania) vs. APR FC (Rwanda)

M11 & 12: JKU SC (Tanzania) vs. Pyramids (Egypt)

M13 & 14: M. Swallows (Eswatini) vs. Fer Da Beira (Mozambique)

M15 & 16: Ngezi Platinum (Zimbabwe) vs. AS Maniema (DR Congo)

M17 & 18: Nyasa Big Bullets (Malawi) vs. Red Arrows FC (Zambia)

M19 & 20: African Stars (Namibia) vs. Jwaneng Galaxy (Botswana)

M21 & 22: Disciples FC (Madagascar) vs. Orlando Pirates (South Africa)

M23 & 24: US Zilimadjou (Comoros) vs. Rangers FC (Nigeria)

M25 & 26: St Louis (Seychelles) vs. GDSE (Angola)

M27 & 28: AS Douanes (Burkina Faso) vs. Coton Bénin (Benin)

M29 & 30: AS Leopards (Congo) vs. CR Belouizdad (Algeria)

M31 & 32: Victoria UTD (Cameroon) vs. FC Samartex (Ghana)

M33 & 34: ASGNN (Niger) vs. Raja Casablanca (Morocco)

M35 & 36: AS PSI (Chad) vs. US Monastir (Tunisia)

M37 & 38: Watanga FC (Liberia) vs. MC Alger (Algeria)

M39 & 40: Red Star (Central African Republic) vs. Djoliba de Bamako (Mali)

M41 & 42: CD Mongomo (Equatorial Guinea) vs. Asko de Kara (Togo)

M43 & 44: Stade d’Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire) vs. Teungueth FC (Senegal)

M45 & 46: Milo FC (Guinea) vs. FC Nouadhibou (Mauritania)

M47 & 48: Bo Rangers (Sierra Leone) vs. San Pedro (Côte d’Ivoire)

M49 & 50: Libyan Club 2 vs. Al Hilal (Sudan)

M51 & 52: Libyan Club 1 vs. El Merriekh (Sudan)

M53 & 54: Remo Stars (Nigeria) vs. AS Far (Morocco)