The first phase of the preliminary stage of the competition is to be held from February 8-10 with 16 teams participating. The teams were drawn into groups at a special event held in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
Al Ahly won the 2016-2017 edition of the continental tournament hitherto known as Africa Club Champions Cup.
However, the team couldn’t defend its title after failing to participate in the subsequent edition which was won by Moroccan side AS Sale.
The top two teams in each of the four groups progress to the Elite Eight where the field reduces to four after home and away games are played.
Ahly is in the tough Group C alongside former winners Primeiro do Agosto from Angola, Ferroviario da Bareira from Mozambique and REG from Rwanda.
Ghana’s Braves of Customs competed in Zone Three qualifiers but missed out to Nigerian duo Rivers Hoopers and Civil Defenders and Elan Sportif from Benin.
By Yaw Adjei-Mintah
@YawMintYM on Twitter
