NPFL winners Enyimba face Moroccan giants Wydad Casablanca in African Football League debut

Reigning Nigeria Premier League champions Enyimba are poised for a challenging start in the inaugural African Football League as they face off against Wydad Casablanca in the first round of matches, Soccernet.ng reports.

The highly-anticipated draw for the tournament, held in Cairo, Egypt, was officially confirmed by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Saturday.

Scheduled to kick off on October 20, 2023, this inaugural continental competition promises an action-packed four weeks of footballing excitement.

Enyimba's showdown with Wydad Athletic Club of Morocco in the quarter-finals is set to be one of the headline clashes of the tournament.

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Participation in the African Football League comes with a substantial N529 million fee for the qualified clubs, underlining the significance and prestige of this new competition.

Enyimba have chosen the Nest Of Champions stadium in Uyo as their home ground for the tournament, setting the stage for thrilling encounters.

In addition to the Enyimba versus Wydad Casablanca matchup, other intriguing fixtures in the competition include Tanzania's Simba Sports taking on Egyptian giants Al Ahly, Congo Lubumbashi-based TP Mazembe squaring off against Tunisia's Esperance, and South Africa's champions, Mamelodi Sundowns, locking horns with Angola's Petro Atletico.

Enyimba boast an impressive track record as the most successful club in Nigeria, with nine NPFL titles to their name.

They are also the sole Nigerian team to have clinched the prestigious CAF Champions League, accomplishing this feat on two occasions.

Currently, the team is under the leadership of former Super Eagles winger George Finidi, while Kanu Nwankwo, an Olympic Games hero from Atlanta '96, serves as the CEO.