NIGERIAN clubs Enugu Rangers and Remo Stars had mixed luck when the draws for the 2025 CAF Champions League qualifying rounds were made yesterday in Cairo.
Enugu Rangers, back in the elite African club competition for the first time since 2017, should be too strong for Zilimadjou from the Comoros in the first round during August.
Assuming they clear that obstacle, Rangers would meet Saint Louis of the Seychelles or Esperanca Sagrada of Angola in September, and be favoured to succeed again and secure a group-stage place.
Every contender aspires to qualify for the 16-club mini-league phase as that is where prize money kicks in with minimum prize money of $700 000.
Remo, whose first Champions League appearance ended in the first round last season, must have hoped for an easier start than former title-holders FAR Rabat of Morocco.
Despite losing Tunisian coach Noureddine Nabi to South African outfit Kaizer Chiefs, FAR look capable of going far in a competition they won 39 years ago.
Remo or FAR will face a Libyan club yet to be named or vastly experienced African campaigners Al Merrikh of Sudan in the second round.
The last Nigerian winners of the Champions League were Enyimba in 2005.
Meanwhile, in the second tier competition, the Confederation Cup, returnees El-Kanemi Warriors will face neighbours Daje FC of Benin Republic in the first Preliminary Round.
If they scale the hurdle, the Borno warriors who last played continental football in 1993 will then battle experienced campaigners RS Berkane of Morocco in the second Preliminary Round.
Former African champions Enyimba who are drawn bye will meet the winner between Hafia FC of Guinea and Rahimo FC Burkina in the second Preliminary Round.
