By Staff Writer
Monrovia, Liberia ~ The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially confirmed that the Preliminary Rounds Draw for the 2025/26 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup will take place on today, Saturday, August 9, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
The draw signals the kickoff of the new continental club football season and holds special significance for Liberia, as local representatives Fassell FC and Blackman Warriors are eagerly awaiting their opponents for the upcoming campaigns.
Fassell FC, fresh off clinching their first-ever Liberian First Division title, are set to make their debut in the CAF Champions League. Meanwhile, Blackman Warriors earned their ticket to the CAF Confederation Cup following a memorable Orange Cup triumph over LISCR FC — also marking their maiden appearance on the continental stage.
In preparation for their international bow, both clubs have ramped up their training schedules in recent weeks, holding intensive camps and playing high-profile friendly matches. Coaches and technical staff from both sides have expressed confidence in their squads’ readiness to fly the Liberian flag high.
Liberia’s clubs will be chasing more than just wins; they’ll be battling history. It has been over a decade since a Liberian side reached the group stage of either the CAF Champions League or Confederation Cup ~ a drought that Fassell FC and Blackman Warriors are determined to break.
The upcoming draw in Tanzania is part of CAF’s broader strategy to highlight emerging football destinations across Africa.
As anticipation builds, Liberian football fans are daring to dream. With club president Cassell Kuoh leading Fassell FC and Blackman Warriors riding the momentum of their cup success, hopes are high that this could be the year Liberia returns to prominence on the African stage.
Can these two rising clubs rewrite the narrative and end the group stage drought? The journey begins this Saturday.
