Preliminaries of the prestigious Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League 2016 edition kicks off today Friday 12, and will go on throughout the weekend.

A total of 22 matches, involving 44 teams will be served. In the East African region, five teams namely; Vipers SC (Uganda), Gor Mahia (Kenya), Yanga SC (Tanzania), St. George (Ethiopia) and Al Ghazala (South Sudan), will be in action. And they are expected to cruise past the round with ease, except for South Sudan’s representative Al Ghazala who were handed a tougher opposition in Zambia’s back to back champions Zesco United.

Uganda’s Vipers will also have to work overdrive to go past Nigerian giant Enyimba at Nakivubo this evening.

Gor Mahia will be facing a familiar opponent from Madagascar, CNAPS, a team they elimated from the championship at the same level last year, and nothing less than a win will be a shock.

So is Tanzanian heavyweight Yanga SC who will be playing Cercle Joachim of Mauritius away tomorrow, and Ethiopia’s St. George who host Syechelles’ St. Michel United on Sunday,nothing except victory will console their respective adoring fans.

Friday 12

Vipers v Enyimba @4 pm kenyan time
Olympique Khouribga v Gamtel

Saturday 13

Cercle Joachim v Young Africans
Zesco Utd v Al Ghazala
Chicken Inn v Mamelodi Sundowns
Gor Mahia v CNaPS @3pm kenyan time
Mafunzo v V Club
Libolo v Racing Micomseng
Mangasport v Etoile
Douanes v Horoya
Stade Malien v Bobo

Sunday 14

Volcan v Kaizer Chiefs
Club Africain v Tanda
St George v St Michel Utd
Mbabane Swallows v APR
Lioli v Vital’O
Cotontchad v ASEC
AshantiGold v Mouloudia Bejaia
Warri Wolves v Sporting Praia Cruz
Onze Createurs v Al Ahly Tripoli
Nimba Utd v Union Douala
Wydad v Douanes

@bonfaceosano

Bonface Osano

African Football Writer contributing @Soka25east | Commentator; appeared on @MySoccerAfrica, @KweseSports, @ntvkenya, others | Keen follower of African Football. E-mail: bonfaceosano@gmail.com