Nigeria Premier Football League champions, Rangers, and Remo Stars, who will compete in the CAF Champions League, have been given byes from the preliminary stage.
In the Confederation Cup, Enyimba has also received a bye, while 2024 President Federation Cup winners, El-Kanemi Warriors, will start from the preliminary stage.
The Confederation of African Football will conduct the draw for the preliminary stages at its headquarters in Cairo, Egypt on Thursay, 11 June, 2024.
El-Kanemi Warriors to begin in preliminary round while Rangers, Remo and Enyimba get a bye
A total of 59 clubs from 47 countries will participate.
Nigerian champions, Rangers, are in Pot 4, which includes the lowest-ranked teams. Remo Stars are in Pot 3, featuring 15 of the highest-ranked teams.
Five teams, including the defending champions, Al Ahly of Egypt, and the runners-up, Esperance Sportive de Tunis, along with Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa, TP Mazembe, and Petroleos of Angola, are exempted from the opening round.
The draw for the preliminary stage of the Champions League and Confederation Cup officially marks the beginning of another exciting season of top-tier African club football.
Enyimba, who finished third in the recently concluded NPFL season, have been given a bye in the preliminary stage of the Confederation Cup.
The Nigerian team is among the 12 highest-ranked teams in the competition.
El-Kanemi, Nigeria’s other representative, is in Pot 1, along with 12 other clubs.
The Confederation Cup will feature 52 clubs from 41 countries.
After the 12 exempted clubs, the remaining 40 clubs will play in the preliminary round, consisting of three ranked clubs and 37 non-ranked clubs, according to the official club rankings.
CAF high stakes for Enyimba and Remo
Three pots of the 37 non-ranked teams are created, considering their geographical proximity.
The exempted and ranked teams are distributed geographically.
Al Ahly of Egypt are the current holders of the CAF Champions League title while another Egyptian side, Zamalek are the CAF Confederations Cup champions.
