NORTH AFRICA OPPOSITION FOR GAMBIAN CLUBS

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By Sulayman Bah

Gambian clubs partaking in continental cup competitions have been handed tricky draws in both the CAF Gamtel leftWallidan pictured rightChampions League and Confederation Cup.

Gambian domestic League champions Gamtel are drawn with Morocco league runners-ups OlympiqueKhourigba and plays the first-leg in Rabat. It will be coach Tapha Manneh side’s maiden appearance in the Caf Champions League preliminary round next year February 12, 13 or 14th.

Playing the second-leg game at home is considered a massive advantage and Gamtel will look to make that count when the Telecom Giants rematch with OCK in Banjul either the 18th, 19th or 20th of March 2016.

Gamtel, on a fine run of form in the ongoing domestic league, are no strangers in Caf competitions having featured umpteenth times in Confederation including Wafu. And, replicating such a form will top gaffer Manneh’s agenda albeit this time in the Orange Champions League.

They battle a side who haven’t qualified in a Caf tournament for a near eight-year –last starring the in the CL in 2008 where they couldn’t go beyond the third round.

Meanwhile Football Federation Cup holders Wallidan take an aim at MC Oran of Algeria in the preliminary stages. Wallidan, the country’s decorated league club, begin their campaign at the Box bar mini-stadium before turning visit.

It will sure mark the returning of the Blue Boys to international competition after nine years absence. They beat Samger to the domestic title in 2008 and were due to face Morocco’s IttihadZemouri in the coveted Orange championship but withdrew owing to financial constraints.