Pay Television Company StarTimes Media is set to follow up the successful broadcast of the just concluded Africa Cup of Nations by airing upcoming Africa premier club competitions CAF Champions League and the Confederation Cup.
The group stage matches for the two competitions will kick off from Friday 11th February until 2nd April with the broadcaster airing all the matches live and in high-definition through five sports channels as well as the platform’s online streaming service StarTimes ON.
Record Kenyan champions Gor Mahia and Tusker were the country’s representatives but were bundled out of the competitions at the play-off stages leaving Tanzanian’s Simba SC’ as the only East African team remaining in African club competitions this season.
Speaking when he announced the broadcast plans, StarTimes Regional Marketing Director Mr. Aldrine Nsubuga said, “The broadcast of the prestigious CAF Club competitions is a continuation of our commitment to not only promote African football but to also ensure local football enthusiasts have a means to witness the continent’s club rivalries even as we hope to inspire local clubs to challenge their regional counterparts at the highest stage.”
Holders Al Ahly from Egypt face tough challenges as they play South African side Mamelodi Sundowns and Sudan’s Al Hilal and Al Merrikh in Group A of the African Champions League. Ahly, led by former Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane, have won the title for the last two years and knocked the South African champions out in the quarter-finals in 2020-21.
The CAF Organizing Committee for Interclub Competitions did however postpone the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League, Group A fixture between Al Ahly and Al Merriekh which was initially scheduled for Friday 11th February 2022 and will now be played on 5th March as Al Ahly participates in the FIFA Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi from 3rd to 12th February.
Group D will see heavyweights clash as Moroccan club Wydad Casablanca, who lifted the continental title in 2017, meet top Egyptian club Zamalek, as well as Angola’s Petro Atletico and Sagrada Esperanca.
African Confederation Cup holders Raja Casablanca head Group B and take on Horoya of Guinea, ES Setif from Algeria and South African debutants AmaZulu.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GROUPS
Group A: Al Ahly (Egypt), Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa), Al Hilal (Sudan), Al Merrikh (Sudan)
Group B: Raja Casablanca (Morocco), Horoya (Guinea), ES Setif (Algeria), AmaZulu (South Africa)
Group C: Esperance (Tunisia), Etoile du Sahel (Tunisia), CR Belouizdad (Algeria), Jwaneng Galaxy (Botswana)
Group D: Wydad Casablanca (Morocco), Zamalek (Egypt), Petro Atletico (Angola), Sagrada Esperanca (Angola)
CONFEDERATION CUP GROUPS
Group A: Pyramids (Egypt), CS Sfaxien (Tunisia), Zanaco (Zambia), Al Ahli Tripoli (Libya)
Group B: JS Kabylie (Algeria) or Royal Leopards (Eswatini), Orlando Pirates (South Africa), JS Saoura (Algeria), Al Ittihad (Libya)
Group C: TP Mazembe (DR Congo), CotonSport (Cameroon), Al Masry (Egypt), AS Otoho (Congo)
Group D: RS Berkane (Morocco), Simba SC (Tanzania), ASEC Mimosas (Ivory Coast), USGN