CAF interclub draw features legends Kibadeni, Manara

DAR ES SALAAM: SIMBA SC legend Abdalla Kibadeni and Young Africans SC icon Sunday Manara have been confirmed as draw assistants for the 2025/26 CAF Interclub Preliminary Draw, scheduled to take place tomorrow (August 9th) in Dar es Salaam.

This was announced by CAF on their official website, cafonline. The draw will be held at Azam Media Studios and will be broadcast live at 1:00 PM. Viewers can watch the event across all CAF Broadcast Partners and stream it live on CAF’s official YouTube channel, CAF TV.

Abdallah Kibadeni made history by becoming the first player to score a hat trick in the Dar Derby in 1977.

After a successful playing career, he transitioned into coaching, where he made further contributions, notably winning a silver medal in the CAF Cup with Simba in 1993 and the Coach of the Season award with Kagera Sugar FC in 2013.

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Sunday Manara is recognized for opening European doors for Tanzanian talent. He made his debut for Young Africans SC in 1970 and became the first Tanzanian footballer to play professionally in Europe by signing with Dutch side Heracles Almelo in 1977.

His international career took him around the globe, with experiences in the Netherlands, the United States, Australia, and the United Arab Emirates, helping to place Tanzanian football on the global stage.

Saturday’s draw marks a historic milestone as it is the first-ever CAF Interclub season draw hosted in East Africa, highlighting CAF’s expanding footprint, deepening partnerships, and the growing interest in African football across the continent.

The Preliminary Round of the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup is set to begin on September 19, 2025, followed by the Second Preliminary Round starting on October 17, 2025. The Group Stage of both competitions will commence on November 21, 2025, with the knockout phase scheduled to begin on March 13, 2026.