Nigeria’s representatives in this season’s CAF Champions League, NPFL champions, Remo Stars, and runners-up, Rivers United, have been handed tough draws leading up to the money-spinning group stage of the continent’s top club championship.

Remo Stars of Ikenne will battle US Zilimadjou of the Comoros Islands in the preliminary round with the overall winners set for a daunting playoff into the group stage against Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa, 2016 winners and beaten finalists of the last edition.

Rivers United, on the other hand, will await the champions DR Congo in the preliminary round, before a second round game against either AC Leopards of Congo or Black Bulls from Mozambique.

Second round ties are fixed for between October 17 and 26.

The winners will advance to the group stage, which begins on November 21.

The competition will be concluded May 2026.

In the CAF Confederation Cup, the age-old Nigeria–Ghana football rivalry will be reignited as Asante Kotoko host Kwara United in the first leg. Asante Kotoko were African champions in 1970 and 1983.

This is their seventh appearance in the CAF Confederation Cup. The Ghanaian side, which will host the first leg, has also featured in the old CAF Winners Cup seven times.

Kwara United are also not newcomers on the continental stage. This will be their third venture at the CAF Confederation Cup after those of 2007 and the 2022/23 season. They were quarter finalists in the 1999 edition of the old-styled CAF Cup.

Nigeria’s other team in the CAF Confederation Cup, Abia Warriors will make their debut in the continent when they take on Malian giants, Djoliba, with the Nigerian side hosting the first leg.

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