Enyimba, Warri Wolves to know opponents in Senegal on Friday

NIGERIA’S representatives in the 2016 CAF Champions League, Enyimba of Aba and Warri Wolves, will know their first round opponents when the draw is held in Dakar, Senegal on Friday.

According to a CAF announcement, the Champions League and the Confederation Cup draws will hold in Senegal, which is currently hosting the CAF U-23v Nations Cup.

Aside Enyimba and Warri Wolves, Akwa United and Nasarawa United will compete in the Confederation Cup next season.

Two-time African champions, Enyimba will be returning to the CAF Champions League, which it last win in 2004. The team has been a consistent participant in the competition, but it has not reached the semifinal since 2011.

This will be Warri Wolves first foray into the lucrative CAF Champions League, but the Seasiders are toughened continental campaigners having featured regularly in the Confederation Cup.

Akwa United and Nasarawa United are debutants on the continental scene.

The CAF draw includes four Egyptian teams, league champions, Zamalek and runners-up Al Ahly, in the Champions League, while ENPPI and Misr El-Maqassa will play in the Confederation Cup.

Al Ahly were eliminated from the 2014/2015 CAF Champions League by Moghreb Athletic de Tétouan in the round of 16 to join the Confederation Cup, where they were knocked out after losing to South African side Orlando Pirates in the semi-finals.

Zamalek had finished third after Smouha in the 2013/2014 Egyptian Premier League thus played in the Confederation Cup and were eliminated by Tunisia’s Étoile Sportive du Sahel, who went on to win the cup.

This will be Misr El-Maqassa’s first-ever African championship participation, which comes four years after reaching the top tier Egyptian League.

Champions, T.P Mazembe, Etoile of Tunisia, Orlando Pirates of South Africa and Asec Mimosas of Cote d’Ivoire are some of the teams also in the pot for the CAF Champions League draw.