By Hananeel Jackson
Aiteo Cup champions Bayelsa United of Yenagoa will kick start their CAF Confederation Cup campaign against AS Ashanti Golden Boys of Guinea on the 12th September 2021, at the Stade Kankou Moussa stadium, Siguiri.
In the draws conducted by the Confederation of Africa Football, CAF on Friday, the Guinean side are drawn against Nigerian Cup Champions, Bayelsa United in the preliminary round of the second tier of Africa’s most prestigious tournament.
Aiteo Cup champions Bayelsa United will be making a return to the continent after eight years of absence. The Yenagoa based club last played in the continent in 2014 where they lost to Sewe Sports of Ivory Coast in Sapele.
The Prosperity Boys beat Nasarawa United 4-3 on penalties in Benin City, Edo State on Sunday after a two-all draw in regulation time to pick the last continental ticket from Nigeria.
To qualify for the CAF Confederation Cup, Ashanti Golden Boys finished 4th in the Guinean league with 43 points, fifteen behind champions Horoya AC while second-placed Club, Industriel De Kamsar with 46th, Wakirya Athletic Club could only manage the third position in the Guinean league.
The Guinée Championnat National side would be playing in CAF Confederation Cup for the first time in the history of the club and are managed by 47-year-old Guinean international Mory Fofana.
Nicknamed the Golden Boys, they will rely on the experience of 28-year-old forward Mory-Fallo Keïta, Ousmane Konaté, and midfielders Mamady Diawara and Alpha Oumar Sow when they battle the Nigerians.
With the reverse fixture coming up on the 17th of September, Coach Diepreye Teibowei tutored side will be hoping to rewrite Nigeria’s history in the CAF Confederations Cup having played in the semi-finals of the CAF Champions league in 2009.
Elsewhere, Nigerian Champions Akwa United face Algerian giants Chabab Riadhi de Belouizdad while NPFL Runners, up Rivers United, will travel to Tanzania to have a date with Young Africans in the CAF Champions League, while Two times African Champions Enyimba were drawn bye in the CAF Confederation Cup.
