The Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) officially conducted the draw for the preliminary stages of the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup 2024/25 season on Thursday, 11 July, at the CAF Headquarters in Cairo, Egypt. The draw, featuring 52 clubs from 41 African countries, marks the beginning of what promises to be an exhilarating season.
Defending champions Zamalek SC, who clinched the title for the second time last season, will be looking to defend their crown against a competitive field. The preliminary stages are divided into two rounds, with the first round involving 40 matches. The second preliminary round, consisting of 32 games, will determine the 16 clubs that will advance to the group stages of the competition.
The 12 highest-ranked clubs, including RS Berkane (Morocco), Asec Mimosas (Cote d’Ivoire), Stade Malien (Mali), Enyimba (Nigeria), Zamalek (Egypt), USM Alger (Algeria), Simba SC (Tanzania), El Masry (Egypt), CS Sfaxien (Tunisia), AS Vita (DR Congo), Sekhukhune United (South Africa), and FC Lupopo (DR Congo), are exempted from the first preliminary round and will join the competition in the second preliminary round.
ASC Jaraaf (Senegal), AS Otoho (Benin), and Zesco United (Zambia) will also enter the competition in the second preliminary round due to their higher-ranking positions and will face non-ranked teams.
Preliminary Round Schedule:
1st Preliminary Round (16 – 18 August for First Legs, 23 – 25 August 2024 for Return Legs):
- El Kanemi W FC (Nigeria) vs. Dadje FC (Benin)
- ASCK (Togo) vs. AS Fan (Niger)
- Paynesville (Liberia) vs. Fovu De Baham (Cameroon)
- Hafia FC (Guinea) vs. Rahimo FC/EFO (Burkina Faso)
- UTS (Morocco) vs. RS Abidjan (Cote d’Ivoire)
- East End Lions FC (Sierra Leone) vs. ASC Jaraaf (Senegal)
- Kenya Police FC (Kenya) vs. Ethiopian Coffee (Ethiopia)
- Jamus FC, JUBA (South Sudan) vs. Stade Tunisien (Tunisia)
- Uhamiaji FC (Tanzania) vs. Libya 1
- Kitara FC (Uganda) vs. Libya 2
- Horseed FC (Somalia) vs. Rukinzo (Burundi)
- N. Hotspurs FC (Eswatini) vs. Stellenbosch United (South Africa)
- Elgeco Plus (Madagascar) vs. CD Lunda-Sul (Angola)
- FC Bravos (Angola) vs. Coastal Union (Tanzania)
- Alize Fort (Comoros) vs. A. Black Bulls (Zimbabwe)
- FC 15 De Agosto (Equatorial Guinea) vs. AS Otoho (Benin)
- Foresters FC (Seychelles) vs. Orapa United (Botswana)
- Dynamos FC (Zimbabwe) vs. Zesco United (Zambia)
- Nsoatreman FC (Ghana) vs. TP Elect Sport (Chad)
- CS Constantine (Algeria) vs. Police FC (Rwanda)
2nd Preliminary Round (13 – 15 September for First Legs, 20 – 22 September 2024 for Return Legs):
- El Kanemi/Dadje FC vs. RS Berkane (Morocco)
- ASCK/AS Fan vs. ASEC Mimosas (Cote d’Ivoire)
- Paynesville/Fovu De Baham vs. Stade Malien (Mali)
- Hafia FC/Rahimo FC/EFO vs. Enyimba FC (Nigeria)
- UTS/RS Abidjan vs. East End Lions/ASC Jaraaf
- Kenya Police FC/Ethiopian Coffee vs. Zamalek (Egypt)
- Jamus FC, JUBA/Stade Tunisien vs. USMA (Algeria)
- Uhamiaji FC/Libya 1 vs. Simba SC (Tanzania)
- Kitara FC/Libya 2 vs. El Masry (Egypt)
- Horseed FC/Rukinzo vs. CS Sfaxien (Tunisia)
- N. Hotspurs FC/Stellenbosch United vs. AS Vita (DR Congo)
- Elgeco Plus/CD Lunda Sul vs. Sekhukhune United (South Africa)
- FC Bravos/Coastal Union vs. FC Lupopo (DR Congo)
- Alize Fort/A. Black Bulls vs. FC 15 De Agosto/AS Otoho
- Foresters FC/Orapa United vs. Dynamos FC/Zesco United
- Nsoatreman FC/TP Elect Sport vs. CS Constantine/Police FC
The 2024/25 season of the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup is set to deliver intense competition and thrilling encounters as clubs from across the continent vie for the prestigious title. With the preliminary rounds kicking off in August, football fans can look forward to an exciting journey leading up to the group stages and beyond.
