Intriguing clashes in store as TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup draw revealed
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The TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup draw has thrown up some tantalizing North-West battles after the preliminary round pairings were announced on Tuesday.
Nigerian club Bendel Insurance face a tough route just to reach the group stage, with Algerian outfit ASO Chlef lying in wait in the opening round.
The winners of that tie will then confront former winners RS Berkane of Morocco next.
Compatriots Rivers United received a bye through the early rounds.
Another interesting showdown sees Tanzania's Azam FC travel to Ethiopia's Bahir Dar Kenema in the pick of the East African clashes.
Elsewhere, Tunisian side Olympique Beja will take on Libya's Abu Salim, while Sudan's Al-Hilal are pitted against neighbours Al Merreikh of South Sudan.
Intriguing fixtures also include FUS Rabat of Morocco against Benin's AS Loto, and Senegal's Casa Sports versus Burkina Faso's EF Ouagadougou.
Debutants across the continent like Arta Solar of Djibouti and Gaborone United of Botswana face daunting openings against seasoned campaigners.
For South Africa's Sekhukhune United, a tricky test awaits against Eswatini's Young Buffaloes.
With a place in the lucrative group stage at stake, the TotalEnergies Confederation Cup preliminary ties promise plenty of dramatic battles between West and North Africa.
The first leg matches take place on 18-20 August, before the return fixtures a week later determine who progresses.
