Zamalek and Pyramids discover CAF Champions League routes to group stage

Zamalek will begin their CAF Champions League campaign against Djibouti’s AS Port, while Pyramids FC have been drawn to face Kenya’s Gor Mahia in the preliminary round.

The draw has determined the routes for both Egyptian clubs through to the group stage of Africa’s premier club competition.

The first-leg matches in the opening preliminary round, known as the round of 64, will be played between 4 and 6 September, with the return fixtures scheduled for 11 to 13 September.

The round of 32 will then take place in October. First-leg ties are due to be played between 16 and 18 October, followed by the second legs from 23 to 25 October.

Zamalek’s tie against AS Port will be paired with the meeting between Rwanda’s APR FC and Congo’s FC Eagles. The winner of the Zamalek tie will face the winner of that match in the next round.

Pyramids FC, meanwhile, will meet the winner of the tie between Somalia’s Heegan FC and South Sudan’s Bentiu El Merreikh if they overcome Gor Mahia.

Several clubs have received direct passage to the round of 32 and will await the outcome of matches in the opening preliminary round.

The key pre-group-stage ties are:

– Zamalek v AS Port and APR FC v FC Eagles – Pyramids FC v Gor Mahia and Heegan FC v Bentiu El Merreikh – Mamelodi Sundowns v the winner of Wiliete SC v Foresters – Esperance de Tunis v the winner of Al-Swehly v KVZ – RS Berkane v the winner of Medina FC v Star Sport – The winner of Petro de Luanda v Songo v the winner of Scotland FC v Nsingizini Hotspurs – The winner of Mangasport v African Stars v the winner of Orlando Pirates v La Cure Waves – 15 de Agosto v Fomboni Club v Simba SC v Mighty Wanderers – Al Hilal v Aigle Noir v Sidama Bunna v Aiglons – Al-Merrikh v Power Dynamos v Horoya AC v JS Kabylie – Club Africain v Djoliba AC v Medeama SC v TP Mazembe

Mamelodi Sundowns, Esperance de Tunis and RS Berkane have already secured direct qualification for the round of 32. Each will face the winner of one of the preliminary-round ties.

The CAF Champions League winners will receive a prize of $6m.

Clubs eliminated in the preliminary round will be awarded $100,000.

Mamelodi Sundowns are the reigning CAF Champions League holders.