Caf Champions League: Tusker to face Arta Solar at 5pm

Tusker's Michael Madoya celebrating his goal against Homeboyz during FKF Premier league match at Ruaraka Grounds. August 13, 2021. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

FKF Premier League champions Tusker will kick start their Caf Champions League campaign today on Saturday when they take on Djiboutian giants Arta Solar 7 in the preliminary round first leg at Hassan Gouled Stadium in Djibouti from 5 pm East African Time.

Tusker's squad mostly comprising of newly signed players including Patrick Matasi, Clyde Senaji and Charles Momanyi are set to debut against former Arsenal and Barcelona star Alex Song’s led side.

The brewers signed 11 new players and released 14 players who were part of the squad that won the league last season.

The other new players at the brewers camp are Teddy Osok, Shami Mwinyi, Daniel Sakari, Hillary Wandera, Brian Bwire, Tanzanian duo of Joshua Ibrahim and Kalos Kirenge and John Njuguna.

Tusker returns to the continental scene for the first time since 2017. After winning the league in 2016, they were bundled out of Caf Champions League by Port-Louis of Mauritius on a 3-2 aggregate score.

Arta Solar won their first-ever Djibouti Premier League title last season after finishing top with 48 points in the 10-team league.

In the 2019/20 season, Arta Solar 7 won the domestic cup to qualify for Caf Confederation Cup where they didn't go past the preliminary round after defeat to Al Mokawloon of Egypt.

Tusker will host the second leg on September 18 with the winner set to meet Egyptian giants Zamalek in the first round next month.