The Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Thursday conducted the preliminary round draws for the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup, while the draw for the WAFU Zone A Women’s CAF Champions League Qualifiers was also held.
Gambia First Division champions Medina FC have been drawn against Sierra Leone champions Star Sport Academy in the preliminary round of the CAF Champions League. The winner of the tie will advance to face Moroccan giants RS Berkane in the next round.
Elsewhere, Gambian duo Ebrima Seckan and PA Amadou Sillah, who helped Teungueth FC win their second Senegalese league title, will face Guinea-Bissau champions FC Canchungo, with the first leg to be played in Bissau.
New Al Hilal signings Ansumana Samura and Omar Tamba will take on Aigle Noir SC, while Gambian midfielder Saidou Khan and Tunisian champions Club Africain have been paired against Malian champions Djoliba AC.
In East Africa, Tanzanian champions Young Africans (Yanga SC), where Gambian winger Buba Jammeh plays, will face Gaborone United of Botswana.
The first-leg matches are scheduled for 4–6 September, with the return legs to be played 11–13 September.
Confederation Cup
In the CAF Confederation Cup, Gambian forward Abdoulie Joof, who recently joined Kenyan side Tusker FC, will face Sudanese club Al Ahli Madani. The winner will progress to meet either Al Ghazala or Singida Black Stars.
Another Gambian, Assan Gibba, is also in the Al Ahli Madani squad after joining from Real de Banjul.
Berewuleng Drawn in Group B
Back-to-back Gambian women’s champions Berewuleng FC have been drawn in Group B of the WAFU Zone A Women’s CAF Champions League qualifiers. They will face Mogbwemo Queens FC of Sierra Leone and AS Bolonta of Guinea.
In Group A, Liberian champions Determine Girls, featuring Gambian trio Catherine Jatta, Mbassey Darboe, and Ruggy Joof, have been drawn alongside USFAS of Mali and Aigles de la Médina of Senegal.
Despite the absence of official confirmation regarding the approval of the Banjul Independence Stadium, the WAFU Zone A Women’s CAF Champions League qualifiers are scheduled to be hosted in Banjul from 25 August to 6 September.
Following the draw, Alkamba Times spoke to Medina FC head coach Alieu Jagne and Berewuleng captain Diminga Mendy.
“The Champions League in Africa is always difficult, especially for Gambian teams. We often face clubs that are well prepared and well structured. We have been preparing for two weeks now and have made adjustments in the areas we needed to improve. Things are going well. There are no easy games, and every match requires physical and mental preparation. We still have another four weeks to prepare, which is encouraging,” Jagne said.
Berewuleng captain Diminga Mendy expressed confidence ahead of the qualifiers.
“Our target is to achieve something in these qualifiers. We are aiming to finish either first or second in the group. We will do our best to qualify, even though we don’t know much about the other two teams yet. The team spirit is high, and our preparations are going well,” she said.
