Enyimba, African champions in 2003 and 2004 will face Algerian side, ES Sétif, Orlando Pirates from South Africa and Libyan club, Ahli Benghazi in Group A of this year’s competition.
ES Sétif will be viewed by pundits as overwhelming favourites to finish as Group B winners as they come into the section with a fearsome pedigree in African club football. They are one of the most successful clubs in Algeria, having won the Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1 eight times and the Algerian Cup a record of eight times. They are also one of only three Algerian clubs to have won the CAF Champions League, winning it twice in 1988 and 2014.
Setif have also won the Arab Champions League twice, in 2007 and 2008, as well as three North African Cups in 2009 and 2010.
In 2015, they became the first Algerian club to win the CAF Super Cup.ES Sétif became CAF Champions League champion by defeating DR Congo’s AS Vita Club in the 2014 final; and the reigning CAF Super Cup champions, by beating Egypt’s Al Ahly in the 2015 Super Cup and the reigning Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1champions.
The north Africans have also reached the final of the CAF Confederation Cup once, in 2009 but have never previously won the competition.
Pirates reached the final of this competition in 2015 and will be banking on their pedigree as one of the heavy hitters in the South African Premier Soccer League to go one better this year. Libyan club, Ahli are making only their second appearance in the competition since 2009 and are tipped to finish bottom of the section.
GROUP AEnyimba FC ES Sétif Orlando Pirates Ahli Benghazi
GROUP B RS Berkane JS Kabylie Cotonsport NAPSA Stars
GROUP C Etoile Sahel CS Sfaxien Salitas FC ASC Jaraaf
GROUP D Raja Club Athletic Pyramids FC Nkana FC Namungo SC/Primeiro Agosto
Story by Sammy Wejinya
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www.spnafricanews.com
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