CAF Confederations Cup: Tusker, Gor face tricky opposition in 2nd round preliminary round

Champions Tusker and Gor Mahia have drawn North and Central African opposition respectively in the CAF Confederations’ Cup second preliminary round, following Tuesday’s draw.

Tusker will play Tunisian giants CS Sfaxien, the brewers set to host the first leg next month, while Gor Mahia will face Association Sportive Otohô of Congo – starting away.

Tusker were knocked out of the CAF Champions League in the preliminary round after a 5-0 aggregate loss to Egyptian champions Zamalek. K’Ogallo advanced to the final preliminary round, thanks to a walkover against Al Ahly Merowe of Sudan who withdrew from the competition before the second leg in Nairobi.

Gor, who had won the first leg 3-1 away in Egypt, will launch their quest for the group stage spot away on 28^th November, the same time FKF Premier League champions – Tusker – will welcome the championship record-winners CS Sfaxien in Nairobi.

The return leg ties will be played a week later.

Last season, Gor participated in the CAF Champions League where they were knocked out in the first round after an 8-1 aggregate loss to Belouizdad of Algeria.

The 19-time Kenya champions were then relegated to the Confederation Cup where they were knocked out again after losing 3-2 to Napsa Stars of Zambia.

The best result K’Ogalo posted in the competition was in the 2018-2019 season when they reached the quarter-finals, losing 7-1 on aggregate to RS Berkane of Morocco.

Otoho, just like Robert Matano’s Tusker, are in the last round of the qualifiers in this competition after being dumped out of the Champions League by Petro de Luanda on a 4-2 aggregate.

Tunisian side Sfaxien are in this stage after prevailing over Nigeria’s Bayelsa United in the previous qualification round.

This year features African giants, including South African giants Orlando Pirates, Nigerian champions Enyimba FC and TP Mazembe of DRC Congo.

PHOTO/COURTESY