Enyimba CAF Confederation Cup draw: Perilous group stage awaits

Published on by Andrew Randa

Nigeria’s sole representative in this season’s CAF Confederation Cup, Enyimba, have been drawn in Group D for the group stage of the competition.

During the draw conducted on Monday by CAF, the two-time CAF Champions League winners were grouped alongside Egyptian clubs Al Masry and Zamalek, as well as Mozambique's Black Bulls.

Enyimba CAF Confederation Cup draw: Perilous group stage awaits
Photo by IMAGO

How Enyimba reached the group stage

Enyimba received a bye in the first round before facing Burkina Faso's Etoile Filante, who had advanced after defeating Guinea's Hafia FC.

Both legs of the tie ended in goalless draws, necessitating a penalty shootout in which Enyimba triumphed 4-3 to secure their spot in the group stage.

Enyimba head coach Olanrewaju Daniel expressed confidence in his team's readiness for the challenge ahead, saying, “We are excited about the draw and will do our best, taking each game as it comes.

“This is the CAF Confederation Cup, and we will not underrate anyone. or over respect any team, thereby undermine our strengths as a team. Any team in the group stage is capable of hurting each other.

Enyimba’s CAF Confederation Cup opponents

  • Zamalek (Egypt): A seasoned campaigner with multiple continental titles, including the 2018/19 CAF Confederation Cup and the 2023/24 edition. Zamalek have also won the CAF Super Cup five times, most recently in 2024.
Enyimba CAF Confederation Cup draw: Perilous group stage awaits
Photo by IMAGO
  • Al Masry (Egypt): Though yet to win the CAF Confederation Cup, Al Masry reached the quarter-finals in the 2021/22 edition, where they were eliminated by Morocco's RS Berkane.
  • Black Bulls (Mozambique): Considered underdogs, Black Bulls reached the group stage after eliminating Congo's Otoho on away goals following a 2-2 aggregate draw.

CAF Confederation Cup Fixtures

The group stage will kick off in November 2024, with fixtures running through April 2025.

Exact match dates are yet to be confirmed.

Enyimba CAF Confederation Cup draw: Perilous group stage awaits

Andrew Randa

Andrew Randa is a veteran Nigerian sports journalist with over 20 years of experience covering the beautiful game across Africa. Andrew served as a Media Officer for Nigeria's U-20 Men's National Team for three years, offering a unique perspective on the future stars of Nigerian football.

Beyond reporting, Andrew is a pioneer in sports graphics creation within Nigeria. His expertise extends to sports kit design, making him a true multi-faceted talent in the African sports landscape.

Andrew's experience is vast, with collaborations encompassing prestigious names like Kickoff, SuperSport, the NFF (Nigeria Football Federation), and the NPFL (Nigeria Professional Football League)