TNM Super League champions Silver Strikers are scheduled to depart for Mauritius today for Sunday’s 2025/26 Confederation of African Football (CAF) CAF Champions League preliminary round first leg against Elgeco Plus of Madagascar.
The match will be played at Cote d’Or National Sports Complex in St Pierre, Mauritius, as currently Madagascar has no CAF-certified stadium.
In a statement, the Bankers said the team, which has been in camp for 15 days in Lilongwe, is expected to arrive in Mauritius in the early hours of today after transiting through Nairobi, Kenya.
In an interview, Silver chief executive officer Patrick Chimimba said they have taken all their players for the trip, including those that have just recovered from injuries such as leading soccer Festus Duwe and defender Tatenda M’balaka.
He said: “We registered them. Our medical team is working with them and asked that they be included in the squad.”
Mauritian referee Ahmad Imtehaz Heeralall will officiate the match assisted by compatriots Aswet Teeluck Jean as the first assistant and Marc Jeff Pithia as the second assistant referee.
Patrice Milazar Jean, also from Mauritius, will be the fourth official while Albert Rollin Jean from the Reunion Island will be the match commissioner.
After the match, the Area 47-based outfit will depart on Monday morning and arrive home the following day.
“The boys will go straight into camp in readiness for the second leg on 27th September at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe.”
Meanwhile, Blantyre-based Mighty Wanderers, face Jwaneng Galaxy of Botswana in the CAF Confederation Cup first preliminary Round on Sunday as well before travelling to Gaborone for the second leg.
If they sail through, the Nomads will meet the winner between Zesco United of Zambia and FC 105 Libreville of Gabon in the second round while Silver’s possible opponents in the second round are Wiliete Bengeula of Angola or Young Africans of Tanzania.
On his part, Wanderers chief executive officer Panganeni Ndovi said they are through with preparations for the first leg.
He said: “Everything is in place both on and off the pitch in terms of match organisation.”
The Nomads last participated in 2018 CAF Champions League in 2018 when they were booted out in the preliminary round by AS Vita Club of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Silver, on the other hand, last played in CAF club competition in 2019 when they were knocked out of CAF Confederations Cup by Ambere SC from Gabon also in the first preliminary round.
