Warri Wolves get CAF Confederation Cup opponents today

Nigeria’s only remaining team in continental club competition, Warri Wolves FC, could play any of the top North African sides, Esperance Sportive du Tunis, Raja Casablanca of Morocco and Al Ahly of Egypt or sub-Saharan sides Stade Malien, AC Leopards and Sanga Balende of DR Congo in the third round of the 2015 CAF Confederation Cup competition.

Their opponents will emerge at today’s draw ceremony at the CAF headquarters in Egypt, with all eight losing sides in the CAF Champions League moving a step down to the CAF Confederation Cup.

Wolves, who sent packing FC Etancheite of DR Congo 3-1 on aggregate in the second round, is one of eight teams from the CAF Confederation Cup that will join the losing eight sides from the CAF Champions League in today’s draw.

None of the eight successful teams from the Confederation Cup, namely Orlando Pirates of South Africa, Club Africain and Etoile du Sahel of Tunisia, ASEC Mimosas of Cote d’Ivoire, Hearts of Oak, Zamalek of Egypt, AS Vita of DR Congo and Warri Wolves will be paired against each other.

They will have to face the eight losing sides from the CAF Champions League, namely AS Kaloum of Guinea, Stade Malien of Bamako, AC Leopards of Congo-Brazzaville, Raja Casablanca of Morocco, CS Sfaxien and Esperance of Tunisia and Al Ahly of Egypt.

The eight successful sides will then proceed to the group phase of the second tier CAF Confederation Cup. First leg matches are scheduled for the weekend of May 15 to 17.

There were mixed fortunes for Algeria and Tunisia in the CAF Champions League, with all three Algerian sides pulling through into the group phase, something unprecedented. USM Alger eliminated AS Kaloum Star; holders Entente Setif eliminated Raja Casablanca on penalties and MC Eulma also sent packing CS Sfaxien of Morocco on penalties.

But Tunisian heavyweights, Esperance was gunned downed by Al Merreikh of Sudan on the away goal rule, and Sfaxien fell on penalties at home to MC Eulma.

Egypt have the surprise team (Smouha) in the group phase, after Al Ahly was thrown out on penalties by Moghreb Tetouan of Morocco, conquerors of Nigeria’s Kano Pillars in the first round.

Sudan is showing tremendous strength in African club football, with their two entries in the Champions League (Al Hilal and Al Merreikh) both sailing into the money –spinning group phase. Tunisia has two teams in the CAF Confederation Cup, while DR Congo has one team in each competition.