Kenya representatives in the Caf Confederation Cup will kick off their continental journey with a first preliminary round fixture against Al Hilal SC Benghazi of Libya in August.
According to the draw conducted on Tuesday at Caf headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, Abana Baingo, who qualified for their first-ever continental show after defeating Tusker 1-0 to lift the Mozzart Bet FKF Cup, will play the first leg between August 18 and 20 before they travel for the return leg in Benghazi between August 25 to 27.
The winner of the fixture will progress to the Second Preliminary Round and come up against Rayon Sports of Rwanda, who earned a bye to the stage, with the first leg lined up for between Friday, September 15 and 17.
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On learning about the draw, Homeboyz chairman Cleophas Shimanyula expressed confidence that the team will do Kenyans proud despite being their first time in the competition.
“We will strive to do our best, this being our first time, we have already started preparations for the journey and I know we will not disappoint Kenyans,” said Shimanyula, adding: “Of course, it will not be easy against a team from Libya but our focus is to do well in the first leg at home, we will go for a convincing win to make the return leg a formality.”
In history, Al Hilal Benghazi have won two league titles, in the 1964-65 season and most recently in 2000, and they have one League Cup to their name, achieved in the 2000-02 season. This will be the third time they are participating in Caf competitions, the first was in 2001 when they failed to go past the first round, and in 2003 when they reached the second round.
CAF Confederation Cup; First Preliminary Round; First Leg: August 18-20; Second Leg: August 25-27; Bendel Insurance (Nigeria) v ASO Chlef (Algeria), FUS Rabat (Morocco) v AS Loto (Benin), Casa Sports (Senegal) v Étoile Filante (Burkina Faso), Arta Solar (Djibouti) v Horseed FC (Somalia), Singida Big Stars (Tanzania) v JKU SC (Zanzibar), Bahir Dar City (Ethiopia) v Azam FC (Tanzania), Olympique Béja (Tunisia) v Abu Selim (Libya), Kakamega Homeboyz (Kenya) v Al Hilal Benghazi (Libya), Sekhukhune United (S. Africa) v Young Buffaloes (Eswatini), Cano Sport (Eq. Guinea) v Maestro United (Zambia), Ferroviário de Maputo (Mozambique) v Belle Lumière (Comoros), Gaborone United (Botswana) v Elgeco Plus (Madagascar), AS Douanes (Mauritania) v SOAR (Guinea), ASC Kara (Togo) v AFAD Djékanou (Ivory Coast), Milo FC (Guinea) v Dreams FC (Ghana), AS Douanes (Niger) v Kallon FC (Sierra Leone), Watanga FC (Liberia) v Stade Malien (Mali), Hay El Arab (Sudan) v Aigle Noir (Burundi), Haidoub (Sudan) v Al-Merrikh Juba (South Sudan) and Académica do Lobito (Angola) v La Passe (Seychelles).
Second Preliminary Round; First Leg: September 15-17; Second Leg: September 29-October 1, Bendel Insurance/ASO Chlef v RS Berkane (Morocco); FUS Rabat/AS Loto v USM Alger (Algeria); Casa Sports/Étoile Filante v Rivers United (Nigeria); Arta Solar/Horseed v Zamalek (Egypt); Singida Big Stars/JKU v Future FC (Egypt); Bahir Dar City/Azam FC v Club Africain; O. Béja/Abu Selim v KCCA FC (Uganda); Kakamega Homeboyz/Al Hilal Benghazi v Rayon Sport (Rwanda); Sekhukhune/Young Buffaloes v St. Éloi Lupopo (DR Congo); Cano Sport/Maestro United v Diables Noirs (Rep. of Congo); Ferroviário/Belle Lumière v Sagrada Esperança (Angola); Gaborone United/Elgeco Plus v SuperSport United (S. Africa); AS Douanes/SOAR v ASC Kara/AFAD; Milo FC/Dreams FC v AS Douanes/Kallon FC; Watanga/Stade Malien v Hay El Arab/Aigle Noir and Haidoub/Al-Merrikh Juba v Lobito/La Passe.