A host of club sides from the COSAFA region will begin their campaigns in African club competition this weekend, all eager to advance to the pool stages of the Champions League and Confederation Cup.
Zambian side Zanaco host Armed Forces from Gambia in the first leg of their Champions League tie on Saturday, looking for a healthy lead to take to West Africa.
Competriots Sesco United begin their campaign away at Jeshi la Kujenga Uchumi FC from Zanzibar.
CNaPS Sport from Madagascar are in action on the same day as they host Ugandan side KCCA, while Saint Louis Suns United from the Seychelles are away at Tanzanian outfit Young Africans.
Township Rollers are back in African club competition and host Sudanese giants Al-Merrikh.
There is another all-Southern African dual as Ngaya Club of the Comoros Islands host UD Songo from Mozambique, but perhaps the biggest challenge falls to Mighty Wanderers from Malawi, who travel to Lubumbashi to tackle AS Vita Club.
There are also three more tussles between sides from COSAFA as South African champions BidVest Wits host Pamplemousses of Mauritius and Primeiro de Agosto entertain Zimbabwe side FC Platinum on Sunday.
That same day there is a meeting between Lesotho’s Bantu FC and Mbabane Swallows from Swaziland.
South African side Mamelodi Sundowns have a bye into the next round.
There are also plenty of match-ups in the Confederation Cup.
Petro de Luanda from Angola are up against Malawi’s Masters Security, while Swazi side Young Buffaloes entertain debutants Cape Town City from South Africa.
Then their is the clash between Costa do Sol of Mozambique and Jwaneng Galaxy from Botswana, while Anse Réunion, who are actually from the Seychelles, travel to Rwandan side APR.
Fosa Juniors from Madagascar are at Kenyan side AFC Leopards, but Ngazi Sport of Comoros will look to beat Mauritian side AS Port-Louis 2000 at home.
Green Buffaloes from Zambia have a very tough tie that they start away at Egyptian side Al-Masry.
South African side SuperSport United and Zambian outfit Nkana both received byes into the second round.
The second legs of these ties will be played midweek on February 20-21.
