AFC Leopards line-up KCCA, Thika friendlies

What you need to know:

  • The 13-time Kenyan champions are hoping for a better show in continental football as they aim to reach group stages.

AFC Leopards face Thika United on Saturday as they continue with their preparations ahead of the this year’s Caf Confederation Cup preliminary round.

Leopards’ secretary general Oscar Igaida said the first two weeks in Gikambura in Kiambu County were used to up the players' fitness levels and they now shift focus on high profile friendly matches starting this weekend in Thika.

He said the weekend build up match, scheduled to kick off at 3pm, is the first of several friendly matches they have scheduled before facing Gor Mahia in the Super Cup on February 28 in Nakuru.

The GOtv Shield champions are scheduled to face Fosa Juniors of Madagascar in their Caf Confederation Cup first round tie on February 10 with the return leg set to take place a week later.

They have two high profile preseason friendly matches in Machakos against Ugandan side Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) on January 24 before shifting to Kakamega in readiness for their Confederation Cup preps at Bukhungu Stadium.

GROUP STAGES

The 13-time Kenyan champions are hoping for a better show in continental football this year as they aim to reach group stages.

If they sail through, they will meet the winner between Cameroonian Ngazi Sport and six-time Mauritania champions AS Port-Louis 2000.

Gor Mahia will face Equatorial Guinea’s Leones Vegeterianos in their Caf Champions League preliminary round tie.

The 16-time Kenyan champions, who have already played a number of build-up matches, face KCCA at Afraha Stadium in Nakuru on Saturday.

If they knockout Vegetarianos, Gor who last featured in the continent’s premier club competition in 2016, will play either ASAC Concorde of Mauritania of Esperance Sportive de Tunis of Tunisia.

K’Ogalo secretary general Ronald Ngala said their target is to reach the group stages, but added they will tackle every match at a time.

“It won’t be easy against Vegetarianos because they are also champions in their country,” he said.