The pursuit of continental success officially begins this week as the Confederation of African Football (CAF) kicks off the highly anticipated 2024/25 season of the CAF Interclub competitions.
The season opens with the Preliminary Rounds of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup.
The first leg of the First Preliminary Round is scheduled to take place from August 16th to 18th 2024 with the return leg set between August 23rd and 25th, 2024. Following that, the Second Preliminary Round will occur from September 13th to 15th for the first leg, while the return leg, which will finalize the draw for the Group Stages, will be played between September 20th and 22nd, 2024.
Top-ranked clubs, including defending champions, Al Ahly SC (Egypt), Esperance Sportive de Tunis (Tunisia), and Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa), are among those exempted from the first preliminary round of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League. Similarly, the 12 highest-ranked teams in the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup, including holders, Zamalek SC, will skip the First Preliminary Round.
Although these are still the early stages of both tournaments, fans can expect high-quality matchups as clubs from across the continent aim to secure their place in the second round and, ultimately, the group stages of both competitions.
Notable fixtures in the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League include Tanzanian champions, Young Africans facing off against Burundi’s Vital’O FC, while Egypt’s Pyramids FC, who had an impressive run last season, take on JKU SC of Zanzibar. Former champions, Orlando Pirates FC will face Disciples FC of Madagascar.
In the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup, an intriguing clash sees Zambia’s Zesco United going up against Zimbabwe’s Dynamos FC in what promises to be an action-packed encounter. Morocco’s UTS will host RS Abidjan of Côte d’Ivoire, while Ghana’s Nsoatreman FC will welcome TP Elect Sport from Chad.
