Tanzanian legends Abdalla Mputa, Sunday Manara confirmed as Draw Assistants for CAF Interclub 2025/26 season
The Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) has officially confirmed two iconic figures in Tanzanian football as Draw Assistants for the 2025/26 CAF Interclub Preliminary Draw, scheduled to take place on Saturday, 9 August in Tanzania’s capital, Dar es Salaam.
The draw will be held at the state-of-the-art Azam Media Studios, home to CAF’s strategic broadcast partner in East Africa, a region showing remarkable growth in both cumulative audiences and stadium attendance across all CAF competitions.
The event will be broadcast live at 13:00 local time (10:00 GMT) from Azam Media
Studios and will be available across all CAF Broadcast Partners, as well as streamed live on CAF’s official YouTube channel, CAF TV.
Simba SC legend Abdalla Kibadeni Mputa and Young Africans SC icon Sunday Manara are the two Tanzanian football greats confirmed to conduct Saturday’s draw in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.
Abdallah Kibadeni Mputa – First scorer of a hat-trick in the Kariakoo derby
Affectionately known as “King Mputa” across East Africa, Kibadeni etched his name in the history books by becoming the first Simba SC player to score a hat-trick in the fiercely contested Kariakoo Derby against Young Africans SC in 1977.
Following a successful playing career, Mputa transitioned into coaching, where he continued to make his mark—most notably winning the Coach of the Season award with Kagera Sugar FC in 2013.
Sunday Manara – The pioneer who opened European doors to Tanzanian talent
Sunday Manara, who made his debut for Young Africans SC in 1970, broke new ground by becoming the first Tanzanian footballer to play professionally in Europe, signing with Dutch side Heracles Almelo in 1977.
His international career spanned the globe, with stints in the Netherlands, the United States, Australia, and the United Arab Emirates—placing Tanzanian football firmly on the global stage.
Saturday’s Draw marks a historic milestone as the first-ever CAF Interclub season draw hosted in East Africa, underlining CAF’s expanding footprint, deepening partnerships, and the rising appetite for African football across the continent.
The Preliminary Round of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup is scheduled to kick off on 19 September 2025, followed by the Second Preliminary Round starting on 17 October 2025.
The Group Stage of both competitions will begin on 21 November 2025, with the knockout phase set to commence on 13 March 2026.
-ENDS-
Further Inquiries:
CAF | Communication Department