CAF exempt Ahli from African Champions League round-one

Confederation of African Football (CAF) exempted Egyptian and African Champions Ahli from playing the African Champions League round-one.

Ahli will begin their title-defense campaign against either Eritrean side Red Sea or the Kenya champions who have yet to be named in the competition round-two in March.

Ahli clinched the African title for the fourth time in their history after defeating Tunisian club Etoile Sahel 3-0 on aggregate in last season’s finals.

CAF also exempted Moroccan side Royal Army Forces and Etoile Sahel from playing the first round.

On another hand, Egyptian league runners-up Enppi will face Ethiopian champions Saint George in round-one.

The first-leg will take place in Addis Ababa in February and the second-leg will be played in Cairo.

The African Champions League quarter-finals will commence early in May, given the kick-off of the 2006 World Cup in Germany in June.

The African football governing body gave 12 countries special exceptions to have two clubs playing in the competition whereas the rest of the 53 countries are represented by only one club.