Africa-Press – Zambia. Red Arrows and Zesco United know their opponents and potential adversaries respectively of the 2022/2023 CAF Inter-Club season following draws conducted on Tuesday in Cairo.
Arrows are in the CAF Champions League while Zesco United will campaign in the CAF Confederation Cup as both sides begin Zambia’s battle with just two continental slots this season after losing their extra spots due to the FAZ Super League club’s poor performances over the last couple of campaigns.
Arrows have a continental reunion awaiting them in the preliminary stage against Primero Agosto of Angola who will visit the Airmen in Lusaka in the first leg next month.
The Airmen and Agosto met in the second round of the 2021/2022 CAF Confederation Cup where they drew 0-0 in Lusaka and Arrows won 1-0 away in Luanda to advance to the pre-group stage where Tanzanian club Simba SC ejected them from the race.
That result in Angola also saw Arrows end a 34-year continental bogey for Zambian clubs against Angolan opposition. Prior to that result, a Zambian club eliminated an Angola opponent from continental competition was in 1987 when Nkana ejected Recreativo da Caala.
And in September, Arrows must repeat that process as Zambian clubs begin their quest to return to the CAF top 12 and reclaim the privilege of the four continental lost they lost this season.
Meanwhile Zesco are on bye from September’s preliminary stage and will enter the CAF Confederation Cup in second round this October. Zesco await winner of September’s tie between Royal AM of South Africa and eSwatini side Mbabane Highlanders.
Preliminary round dates have been set for September 9-11 for the first legs while the final leg will be played during the weekend of September 16-18. Second round, first leg fixtures are set for October 7-9 and the return legs will be played during the weekend of October 14-16.
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