Champs League: Kotoko For CAR; Hearts For Mali

The Confederation of African Football have released the draws made for the preliminary, first and second rounds of the 2004 African Champions League. The first round has potentially paired some big name teams together with Asec Abidjan of the Ivory Coast due to meet Asante Kotoko should the Ghanaians knock out AS Tempete Mocaf of the Central African Republic in the preliminary round.

Kotoko were knocked out of the 2003 Cup Winners' Cup by APR FC of Rwanda, and the latter will meet Egyptian giants Zamalek in the first round should they defeat Eritreans Anseba SC in the preliminary round.

Meanwhile, one of Mali's Stade Malien and Ghana's Hearts of Oak will not reach the first round after the duo were paired together in the preliminary round.

And whoever wins that tie are then likely to face AS Aviacao of Angola should they emerge unscathed from their preliminary round clash with DR Congo's SC CLimneterie Lukala.

As for Nigeria's maiden champions Enyimba, the Aba-based side will open the defence of their title with a first round clash between either ASFAG of Guinea or Diaraf of Senegal.

The full draw for the early rounds of the 2004 African Champions League:

Preliminary round:

Stade Tamponnaise (REU) v Port Louis (MRI)
SuperSport Utd (RSA) v Civics (NAM)
St George (ETH) v Al-Hilal (SUD)
Toamasina (MAD) v St Michel (SEY)
Matlama (LES) v Orlando Pirates (RSA)
To be named (TAN) v Zanaco (ZAM)
Bakili Bullets (MAW) v Villa (UGA)
APR (RWA) v Anseba (ERI)
To be named (BEN) v Douanes (TOG)
Al-Ittihad (LBA) v Sahel (NIG)
St Michel (CGO) v Bitam (GAB)
ASFA Yennenga (BUR) v Julius Berger (NGR)
Asante Kotoko (GHA) v Tempte Mocaf (CAR)
Armed Forces (GAM) v Jeanne d'Arc (SEN)
Vita (DRC) v Ulinzi Stars (KEN)
Stade Malien (MLI) v Hearts of Oak (GHA)
Aviacao (ANG) v Cimenterie Lukala (DRC)
Hassania Agadir (MAR) v Nasr Sebkha (MTN)
ASFAG (GUI) v Diaraf (SEN)
Amazulu (ZIM) v To be named (MOZ)
Petro Atletico (ANG) v Atletico Malabo (GEQ)

First legs: weekend of March 5-7.
Second legs: weekend of March 19-21.

First round:

Tamponnaise/Port Louis v SuperSport/Civics
Al-Ahly (EGY) v St George/Hilal
Toamasina/Michel v Matlama/Pirates
Tan/Zanaco v Bullets/Villa
Zamalek (EGY) v APR/Anseba
Africa Sports (CIV) v Ben/Douanes
Etoile Sahel (TUN) v Ittihad/Sahel
Cotonsport Garoua (CMR) v Michel/Bitam
USMA (ALG) v Yennenga/Berger
ASEC (CIV) v Kotoko/Mocaf
Raja Casablanca (MAR) v Forces/Jeanne d'Arc
Canon Yaounde (CMR) v Vita/Ulinzi
Malien/Hearts v Aviacao/Lukala
Esperance (TUN) v Agadir/Sebkha
Enyimba (NGR, holders) v ASFAG/Diaraf
Amazulu/Moz champions v Petro/Malabo

First legs: weekend of April 9-11.
Second legs: weekend of April 23-25.

Second round:

Tamponnaise/Port Louis/SuperSport/Civics v Ahly/St George/Hilal
Toamasina/Michel/Matlama/Pirates v Tan/Zanaco/Bullets/Villa
Zamalek/APR/Anseba v Africa Sports/Ben/Douanes
Etoile/Ittihad/Sahel v Garoua/Michel/Bitam
USMA/Yennenga/Berger v ASEC/Kotoko/Mocaf
Raja/Forces/Jeanne d'Arc v Canon/Vita/Ulinzi
Malien/Hearts/Aviacao/Lukala v Esperance/Agadir/Sebkha
Enyimba/ASFAG/Diaraf v Amazulu/Moz/Petro/Malabo
First legs: weekend of May 14-16. Second legs: weekend of May 28-30.