Following the draws CAF Confederations Cup draws conducted at the CAF Headquarters in Cairo, Egypt on Tuesday,July 25,
2023 Federation Cup winners, Bendel Insurance Football Club of Benin have paired against Algerian FA cup champions Association Sportive Olympique de Chlef (ASO Chlef) in the first preliminary round of the competition.
The Benin Arsenals will be playing host to the North African Football giants at the 15,000 capacity Samuel Ogbemudia stadium, Benin on August 20 and later travel to Algiers for the revised fixture on August 27,2023 at the 18,000-capacity Mohamed Boumezrag Stadium in Chlef, Algeria.
The winners in two legged fixtures will in the second round of the qualifiers play against RS Berkane of Morocco for a place in the group stage.
Bendel Insurance claimed the Nigeria’s FA Cup title for the fourth time with a 1-0 win over Enugu Rangers at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba, to secure the ticket for the CAF competition. Insurance finished 5th in the 2022/23 NPFL.
ASO Chlef,founded in 1947 defeated defending champions CR Belouizdad 2-1 at the 25,000 capacity Miloud Hadefi Stadium, Oran, to emerge champions of the Cup for the second time, the first time being in the 2004/2005 season. They similarly finished fifth in the Algerian premier league.
Insurance FC are currently fortifying their team ahead of the competition since their return from end of season break. They have officially confirmed getting the signatures of Kelly Kester,Tamara Ezikiel from Shooting Stars, and Paul Obatan from Gombe Utd.
