Two legends, Egyptian Wael Gomaa and Tresor Mputu Mabi of DR Congo will take part in the draw for the group phase of the Total CAF Champions League 2017 and Total CAF Confederation Cup 2017, to be held on Wednesday, 26 April 2017 at 12H00 GMT at the CAF headquarters in Cairo, Egypt.
Gomaa and Mputu are famous names with the African Club Championships, having lifted the Holy Grail of continental club football at least once.
Forty-one (41) year old Gomaa, who retired in 2014, won unprecedented six CAF Champions League titles with Egyptian giants, Al Ahly – 2001, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2012 and 2013, as well as five CAF Super Cup titles. The rugged defender was a member of the Ahly ‘golden generation’ together with the likes of Essam El Hadary, Mohamed Aboutreika, Mohamed Barakat and Shady Mohamed that dominated African football at their peak.
He also bagged over a centurion of appearances with the Egypt national team appearing in five successive finals of the Africa Cup of Nations – 2002,2004,2006,2008 and 2010; and being on the victorious side three times – 2006, 2008 and 2010.
Mputu, 31, is undoubtedly one of the most skillful players of his generation domestically and beyond. Top scorer in the continental club championships with 43 goals, he remains an iconic figure in his native DR Congo especially with Lubbumbashi outfit, TP Mazembe, where he is idolized.
He was one of the pillars behind the rise to fame of Mazembe in the mid 2000’s guiding them to CAF Champions League glory in 2009 and the CAF Super Cup same year. After a brief stint with Kabuscorp of Angola, he rejoined ‘Les Corbeaux’ in late 2016 and has continued to impress. The offensive midfilder was also revelation of the maiden edition of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Cote d’Ivoire, where he was adjudged the Most valuable Player as DR Congo won the title.
The two players will assist CAF Acting General Secretary, Essam Ahmed, to conduct the draw to be attended by officials of the participating clubs.
CAF
