By Victor Kanayo
The only Nigerian Representatives in the 2023/24 season CAF Inter-Club competitions, Rivers United, will on Sunday clash with Angola’s Academica do Lobito as action resumes.
Also, in the CAF Confederation Cup, defending champions USM Alger from Algeria welcomes Al Hilal Benghazi of Libya same day.
CAF Champions League
According to fixtures by the continental football body, Cairo, Egypt will host the opening act of the Champions League action between former Champions TP Mazembe who will be hosted by Egypt’s Pyramids.
This will be followed by Algeria’s CR Belouizdad who will host Tanzania’s Young Africans – the runners-up of last season’s CAF Confederation Cup.
Defending CAF Champions League side Al Ahly will be at home against Medeama as they seek to claim their record 12th trophy.
Concluding the CAF Champions League action will be African Football League (AFL) Champions Mamelodi Sundowns who will be at home against this season’s surprise package, FC Nouadhibou from Mauritania.
The Club from Nouadhibou – the sea-side town in Mauritania is an unknown entity to many but they have pulled some famous results including their 3-0 victory against Real Bamako in the qualifying stages of this competition.
Prize Money
Already, organisers have earmarked a prize money of $4,000,000 for CAF Champions League winner, following a massive 40% prize money increase across CAF competitions aimed at making club football in Africa self-sustaining.
The CAF Confederation Cup winner will grab $2,000,000.
