Enyimba drawn against Algerian, South African giants in Confed Cup group phase

NIGERIA’S only remaining representatives in continental competitions, Enyimba, have been drawn into one of the toughest groups of the CAF Confederation Cup.

The People’s Elephants reached the group phase of the competition on Sunday after beating local rivals Rivers United on penalties in the playoffs.

The two-time African champions were drawn into Group A on Monday, where they will meet Algeria’s ES Setif, South Africa’s Orlando Pirates and Libya’s Ahli Benghazi.

Enyimba will fight it out with the three clubs for one of the two quarter-final spots open to the group.

Despite recent struggles, Orlando Pirates remain one of the richest clubs in Africa, while ES Setif reached the CAF Confederation Cup final in 2009 and are experienced continental campaigners.

Pirates also won the CAF Champions League in 1995 and reached the final in 2013, two years before reaching the Confederation Cup final.

Enyimba, who won the CAF Champions League in 2003 and 2004, will begin their quest for a quarter-final ticket with a home clash against Ahli Benghazi on 10 March before travelling to South Africa to face Orlando Pirates seven days later.

The eight-time Nigerian champions will then battle ES Setif home and away on 4 April and 11 April.

Enyimba’s final two group matches are away to Ahli Benghazi and home to Orlando Pirates on 21 April and 28 April respectively.

In Group B if the competition RS Berkane of Morocco, JS Kabylie of Algeria, Coton Sport of Cameroon and Napsa Stars of Zambia will do battle.

CS Sfaxien of Tunisia, Salitas of Burkina Faso, AS Jaraaf of Senegal and either Etoile du Sahel or Young Buffaloes (their play-off is yet to be decided) are in Group C.

Group D has Raja Casablanca of Morocco, Pyramids of Egypt, Nkana of Zambia and Namungo FC of Primero de Agosto.