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