Lobi Star of Makurdi face an uphill task in their hope of going far in the CAF Champions League, as the Nigerian title holders have three former continental lords to contend with in the continental competition’s group stage.
Sports247.ng reports that Friday’s group stage draw of the CCL saw Lobi Stars drawn alongside Wydad Casablanca of Morocco, Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa and ASEC Mimosas of Cote d’Ivoire in Group A.
Wydad were continental champions two years ago, while ASEC ruled Africa in 1998 and Sundowns won the elite competition three years ago, which means Lobi have strong pedigree to confront in the group.
Compared to the other three, it is Lobi Stars’ second outing in the group stage of the money-spinning competition after their first contest in the year 2000.
The Middle Belt side will begin their quest for a quarter-final ticket at home against Mamelodi Sundowns between January 11-13.
The Benue State-owned side will then travel away to Abidjan between January 18 and 20, then host Wydad on the weekend of February 1 and 3.
Lobi Stars will afterwards travel away to Casablanca for the start of the second phase on the weekend of February 12 and 13.
They will also travel to South Africa between March 8 and 10 and then wrap up by hosting ASEC between March 15 and 17 in their final group match.
The top two teams will qualify for the quarter-finals of the competition, with Lobi Stars’ chances of making it now looking apparently very, very steep.
