The new Angolan season will kick off on February 19 with a match between Benfica Luanda and Primeiro Agosto, the Angolan Football Federation announced on Monday.

The debut of the new campaign has been put back five days after clubs asked the federation for more preparation time after losing players to the national team, which competed at the Chan-2016 tournament in Rwanda.

It also helps the two clubs who are participating in African club competitions this year – Recreativo Libolo in the African Champions League and Sagrada Esperança in the African Confederation Cup. They will play their first matches in the Confederation of African football competitions on the previous weekend.

Only one match will be played on February 19 with the rest of the first round fixtures over the next two days.

The other opening round fixtures are:

Prmiero Maio v Recreativo Libolo

Progresso Sambizanga v Porcelana FC

Kabuscorp Palanca v Recreativo Caála

Desportivo Huíla v Sagrada Esperança

InterClube v Progresso da Lunda Sul

AS Aviacao v Académica Lobito

Petro Atletico v 4 Abril do Cuando Cubango

Collins Okinyo

Ex- CAF Media Expert. An expert on African football with over 15 years experience ,always with an ear to the ground with indepth knowledge of the game. I have worked for top publications including 7 years at www.supersport.com until i founded www.soka25east.com to quench the thirst of football lovers across the continent. I have trained young upcoming journalists who are now a voice in African football.I have covered World Cup,AFCON,CHAN,Champions League,Confederations Cup,Cecafa,Cosafa,Wafu and many other football tournaments across the World. Founder Football Africa Arena(FAA),Founder www.afrisportdigital.com