Nigeria Premier League winners Dolphins will begin their Caf Champions League campaign with a preliminary stage clash against Sony de Ela Nguema of Equatorial Guinea during the weekends of 17-19 February and 2-4 March, 2012.
It is the first time since 2005 that the Port Harcourt-based team will play in the Champions League. They last played in a Caf organised tournament in 2008 when they reached the second round of the Confederation Cup.
It may explain why NPL runners up and first time Champions League campaigners Sunshine Stars were drawn into the round of 32. The Akure were semi-finalists in this year’s Confederation Cup.
Sunshine will await the winner of the clash between South Africa’s Orlando Pirates and Recreativo de Libolo of Angola.
Other teams drawn into the round of 32 are Al Ahly, Esperance, TP Mazembe, Al Hilal, MAS, Coton Sport, Djoliba, Raja Casablanca, Etoile du Sahel, Dynamos, Stade Malien and El Merrikh.
This round of matches will take place between 23-25 March and 6-8 April 2012.Â