CAF Confed Playoff Draws Loom For Red Arrows

by Staff Reporter

Monday Oct 25, 2021. 17:00

Red Arrows hold their breath for the 2021/2022 CAF Confederation Cup pre-group stage payoff draws that will be made on Tuesday in Cairo.

Arrows and fifteen other sides that successfully progressed to the CAF Confederation Cup last 16 over the weekend, will be drawn against the 16 teams eliminated from the 2021/2022 CAF Champions League pre-group round that also concluded on Sunday.

Potential playoff suitors for Arrows include compatriots and Lusaka hometown rivals Zanaco who were ejected from the CAF Champions League via a 4-2 on aggregate result by Al Merreikh of Sudan.

A draw against Zanaco would mark the first time Zambian clubs cross swords for a place in the league round of continental competition.

But it would mark the second time Zambian clubs have met in the Confederation Cup since the 2018/2019 league phase when Zesco and Nkana clashed in Group C.

The list of prospective opponents for Arrows also includes a healthy pedigree of former CAF Confederation Cup champions namely 2004 winners Hearts of Oak from Ghana and State Malien of Mali who won it in 2009.

Two-time CAF Confederation Cup winners TP Mazembe of DR Congo will be hoping to redeem themselves in the second tier competition after Amazulu of South Africa eliminated them from the CAF Champions League.

Mazembe have not faced a Zambian club in continental competition since the 2018/2019 CAF Champions League when they booted out Zesco United at the pre-group stage.

Meanwhile, Eswatini side Royal Leopards, who ejected Zesco in the preliminary round of this seasons’ CAF Champions League in September, have a potential trip back to Zambia in Tuesdays draws.

The first legs matches are set for the weekend of November 26-28 while the final legs are scheduled for the weekend of December 3-5.

Winners over both legs will qualify to the CAF Confederation Cup league phase that kicks off in February.