CAF selects four African football legends as draw assistants for Champions League and Confederation Cup, but Kenyan icons are overlooked again.
Confederation of African Football (CAF) has set the stage for the much-anticipated quarter-final draws of the 2024/25 CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup, confirming four African football icons as draw assistants for the event.
The ceremony will take place on Thursday, 20 February, in Doha, Qatar, at the beIN Sports studios.
Despite the presence of numerous accomplished former Kenyan players on the continental stage, no Kenyan football legend was selected for this high-profile role, raising eyebrows among fans and analysts alike.
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Instead, CAF has chosen four distinguished football figures from Egypt, Algeria, Zambia, and DR Congo to oversee the proceedings.
“The draw ceremony will be hosted at beIN Sports’ world-class studios at the network’s MENA headquarters in Doha,” CAF announced on Wednesday.
The governing body has confirmed that former Egypt international Wael Gomaa, Algerian football great Rabah Madjer, Zambia’s midfield maestro Rainford Kalaba, and DR Congo’s prolific striker Ben Malango will be assisting in conducting the draw.
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Wael Gomaa, a name synonymous with success in African football, remains one of the most decorated defenders on the continent.
The former Al Ahly SC stalwart won an astonishing six CAF Champions League titles and played a crucial role in Egypt’s back-to-back TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) triumphs in 2006, 2008, and 2010. His legacy continues to inspire generations of African defenders.
Similarly, Rabah Madjer, a household name in Algerian football, brings his vast experience to the draw. The former FC Porto forward is best remembered for his legendary backheel goal in the 1987 UEFA Champions League final, a moment that still resonates in global football history.
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His goal in the 1990 AFCON final secured Algeria’s first continental title, making him a revered figure in African football.
Rainford Kalaba, who played an instrumental role in Zambia’s historic AFCON victory in 2012, joins the elite panel.
Kalaba’s club career flourished with TP Mazembe, where he won the CAF Champions League and multiple domestic titles, cementing his legacy in the African game.
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Ben Malango, a lethal goal scorer, completes the list of draw assistants. The Congolese striker enjoyed immense success in club football, winning the CAF Confederation Cup with TP Mazembe in 2017 before replicating the feat with Raja Casablanca in 2021.
The event, which will be presented by renowned beIN Sports host Mohammed Saadoun Al-Kuwari, will first unveil the quarter-final matchups for the CAF Confederation Cup at 16h00 Cairo time (14h00 GMT/17h00 East Africa Time/Mecca).
The CAF Champions League draw will follow at 17h00 Cairo time (15h00 GMT/18h00 East Africa Time/Mecca). Fans can watch the live coverage on beIN Sports News (Arabic), beIN Sports English, and CAF tv.
The draw will not only set the quarter-final fixtures but also map out potential semi-final encounters, increasing the excitement as clubs inch closer to continental glory.
Defending champions Al Ahly SC (CAF Champions League) and Zamalek SC (CAF Confederation Cup), both from Egypt, will be among the favorites as the tournament reaches its crucial stage.
