Enyimba have a bye to the next round

Africa's Champions Cup competition celebrates 40 years of existence as preliminary round games of the newly-expanded edition kick off this weekend.

This expansion is the third change to the most prestigious Cup on offer since its inception in 1964.

The Confederation of African Football (Caf) abandoned the knock-out style after 1996 and modelled the competition to that of the Uefa Champions League in Europe.

And this year, the competition will involve two teams from Caf's top 12 countries, which include Egypt, Morocco, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Cameroon.

40 years of the African Champions League

Title-holders Enyimba of Nigeria have a bye into the next round, but the competition has already suffered some withdrawals.

Clubs from Central African Republic withdrew last week while Kenya's Ulinzi Stars are struggling to raise funds to play AS Vita of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The withdrawal of Tempete Mocaf means that Ghanaian champions Asante Kotoko go through to the first round stage.

But some of the attractive ties will take place in eastern and southern Africa, with St George of Ethiopia playing Al Hilal of Sudan and last year's sensation Simba of Tanzania taking on Zanaco of Zambia in another neighbouring encounter.

There is also an island affair when the Seychelles' Stade Tamponnaise host Mauritian side Port Louis in Reunion.

Meanwhile, Zimbabwe's Amazulu are at home to Maxaquene of Mozambique.

There are two other mouth-watering West African derbies in prospect as Togolese side Douanes travel to Benin to play Dragons l'Oueme while Stade Malien of Mali entertain the 2000 Champions League winners Hearts of Oak of Ghana in Bamako.