CAF Champions League preview

The 2013 CAF Champions League gets under way across various centres in Africa. The annual club competition is the biggest club tournament on the continent. The winner of this tournament will earn $1.5 million and a ticket to represent Africa at the FIFA Club World Cup in December.

FIFA will give such a club a sum of $3.5 million as appearance fee. Al Ahly of Egypt are the reigning CAF Champions League holders. The Egyptian club dethroned Esperance of Tunisia in last year's final.

CAF Champions League preview

NIGERIAN REPRESENTATIVES
Just a week after Nigeria emerged as the new champions of Africa, Enugu Rangers and Kano Pillars will hoist the country's flag in this year's competition. Kano Pillars are the current Nigerian champions while Enugu Rangers is the country's second representative.

Rangers have not played any continental tournament since 2005 while Kano Pillars are making their third Champions League appearance in 5 years. Their first attempt saw them eliminating Al Ahly of Egypt before they fell to Heartland FC in an all-Nigerian semi final clash in 2009.

Fixtures(1st Round 1st leg) 16th-17th Feb. 2013

Kano Pillars vs Olympic Bangui (C.A.R)
Enugu Rangers vs Sporting Do. Principe (Sao Tome & Principe)
APR(Rwanda) vs Vital'O
Zamalek vs Gazelle FC
Asnate Kotoko vs Sony de Ela Nguema
Coton Sport vs URA
AC Leopards vs Mounana
Union Douala vs LISCR

African Soccer roundup

Al Ahly of Egypt have won this year's edition of the CAF Champions League. Africa's club of the century have set a new record by winning their seventh title. The Egyptian Red Devils have won 5 crowns in 11 years. They won the title in 2001,2005,2006,2008 and 2012.

Esperance lost their title to the Egyptians after a 2-1 defeat at the Rades stadium on Saturday. The Tunisians played a 1-1 draw in the first leg but they couldn't avoid defeat against their North African rivals.

In the CAF Confederations cup, AC Leopard played a 1-1 draw against Djoliba of Mali in Bamako. The South African side will win the competition if they can play a 0-0 draw in the second leg final.

Menawhile, Nigeria's Golden Eaglets defeated the junior eagles of Mali by 2-0 in Calabar. The Manu Garba tutored side lost several scoring chances against their visitors. The return leg will be played in Bamako on December 2,2012.

It will be recalled that the Nigerian Football Federation played the game under an official CAF protest. The Malians looked very hefty and it seems they paraded over aged players.

The encounter was the first leg of the final qualifying round for Morocco 2013 African Youth Championship.