Twice defending Ethiopian Premier League champions Kidus Giorgis handed a relatively unknown side KMKM of Zanzibar in its preliminary qualification round. But it is the continent’s giant Al-Ahly waiting at the first round fixtures. International fixtures debutant Baherdar Ketema is paired with East African string side Azam FC of Tanzania.
Being among the very few sides of the continent that took part in more than twelve CAF Champions League fixtures, Giorgis could easily go past KMKM. But facing the 11 time Champions League title holder Al-Ahly in the first round qualification is a completely different story.
Some star players including top striker Ouro-Agoro, striker Shimeles Gugsa and Amanuel G/ Kidan parted ways, Coach Zarihun Shengeta might face a huge challenge of building a strong squad. Considering the time constraint it is hard to expect something new from the club for the first leg home match is 18-20 August.
In Confederation Cup preliminary round qualification matches, newcomer Baherdar faces Azam FC. Both the club and Coach Degarege Yigzaw are new to international fixtures and a huge effort is expected to burst out of the squad in order to get past the Tanzanian Premier League former champions that also finished third this season.
Degarege’s early move to sign star players the likes of Ferew Solomon and Cherenet Gugsa shows that “The Blue Waves” are in a huge build-up of their squad. But not yet having enough time to mix the team and hard to be sure of having a home venue, Baherdar could face a difficult time in its first ever international fixture. The first leg home clash takes place August 18-20 with the return leg a week later.

Osimhen is the favorite to succeed Senegal and Bayern Munich’s Sadio Mane as Africa’s best player this year.
Super Eagles star Victor Osimhen has been handed a huge boost in his quest to win the African Player of the Year after CAF announced the date, venue and criterion for selection.
Osimhen is the favorite to win the award following an incredible season with Napoli and the Super Eagles of Nigeria.
The 24-year-old was arguably Africa’s best player last season after leading Napoli to their first league title in 31 years. Osimhen scored 26 league goals in 32 matches for the Neapolitans, including the strike that sealed the league title against Udinese.
The Super Eagles star also scored five goals in six Champions League matches. Not forgetting the seven goals and two assists he recorded in Nigeria’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifying campaign.
Osimhen’s performances have put him in the pole position to win the African Player of the Year for 2023.
The Nigerian striker has now been handed a boost after CAF announced that the period under review for the award is September 2022 to June 2023.
This year’s award is scheduled to take place on December 11 in Morocco, although it remains to be seen if Rabat will be the host city again after it hosted last year’s ceremony.

Africa’s run at the Women’s World Cup has been nothing short of extraordinary at the end of the group phase on Thursday as debutants Morocco joined Nigeria and South Africa in the last 16.
Morocco had been thrashed 6-0 by twice champions Germany in their opening match of the finals but bounced back to beat South Korea and Colombia to secure their passage into the knockout stage of the tournament.
Their surprise run of results led to the group stage elimination of the highly fancied Germans in one of the biggest shocks of the tournament.
The upset came some 24 hours after South Africa had snatched a dramatic stoppage time winner to oust Italy, and also after Nigeria had advanced from Group B following two draws and a win over co-hosts Australia.
Even Zambia, who had been eliminated after two successive five-goal thrashings, were able to depart with a win, overcoming Costa Rica in their last group game.
Africa’s chances of getting a team through to the knockout phase were always going to be better with the expansion of the finals’ field to 32 teams and the continent’s representation increased to four.
But even then, there was little expectation for the quartet of African teams as they travelled to Australia and New Zealand.
Nigeria have not missed out of any of the nine Women’s World Cups but their dominance in Africa had been ended as they struggled at last year’s Africa Women’s Cup of Nations and only finished fourth.
South Africa won the continental title but their preparations were dogged by arguments over money as the players went on strike last month.
As for Morocco, the first Arab nation to compete, they looked out of the depth as they produced a horror defensive display and looked every bit the 70 places they were ranked below Germany in a rude World Cup welcome.
RESOLVE
But they showed inspiring resolve to come back and win a top two place in Group H, albeit with some assistance as Germany failed to beat South Korea on Thursday.
“You’ve always got to factor in the magic of the World Cup,” their coach Reynald Pedros had predicted before the game.
Morocco shook up the traditional order when finishing fourth in Qatar last December in Africa’s best showing at the men’s World Cup and the women now have a chance to also break new ground.
No African team has ever won a knockout game at a previous Women’s World Cup but there will be high hopes now that the continent’s mazy run can continue, even if the odds are stacked against them.
In the last 16, South Africa face the Netherlands, Morocco will be up against France while Nigeria will take on Euro 2022 champions England.
“They’ve shown that nothing can stop them if they put their mind to it and they play for each other,” South Africa coach Desire Ellis said of her players ahead of Sunday’s tie in Sydney against the in-form Netherlands.