Rangers, Rivers Utd get CAF Confederation opponents

Nigerian champions Rangers of Enugu will face Zambian side Zesco United for a place in the group stages of the 2017 Caf Confederations Cup while Rivers United will battle it out with Rayon Sports of Rwanda.

At the draw, conducted in Cairo on Thursday, Rangers discovered they will be home for the first leg on April 7-9 while the return leg will be on the weekend of April 14-16.

Rivers United, who were knocked out of the Caf Champions League by El-Merrikh of Sudan, will welcome Rayon Sports to Port Harcourt for the first leg before heading to Rayon Sports for the second leg.

Zesco United will be tricky customers for the Nigerian side and have been steadily building a profile for themselves on the continent.

They made the semifinals of the 2016 Caf Champions League before losing to eventual champions Mamelodi Sundown. They will be a tough nut to crack as they have very good players like the Kenyan duo of Jese Were and David Owino as well as goalkeeper Jacob Banda.

Rivers United will hope to banish the ghosts of their capitulation in Sudan by picking up a place in the group stage by defeating Rayon Sports.

The Port Harcourt-based side suffered a humiliating 4-0 defeat against El-Merrikh after winning the first leg 3-0 and they will hope to qualify for the Caf Confederation Cup to give their fans some sort of consolation.

CAF Confederation Cup play-offs draw made Tuesday in Cairo:

Young Africans (TAN) v Mouloudia Alger (ALG)

TP Mazembe (COD, holders) v JS Kabylie (ALG)

AC Leopards (CGO) v Mbabane Swallows (SWZ)

FUS Rabat (MAR) v MAS Fes (MAR)

Enugu Rangers (NGR) v Zesco Utd (ZAM)

Rivers United (NGR) v Rayon Sports (RWD)

Mounana (GAB) v ASEC Mimosas (CIV)

Rail Kadiogo (BUR) v CS Sfaxien (TUN)

Wits (RSA) v Smouha (EGY)

CNaPS Sport (MAD) v Recreativo Libolo (ANG)