The Amakhosi were drawn against Namibian giants Black Africa FC in the opening qualifying round, set for 7-9 February, with the return leg scheduled for 14 to 16 February.

The winner will face either Madagascar champions CNAPS or Liga Muculmana of Mozambique in the next stage of the tournament. The South African Champions are part of the 52 clubs that have entered for next year's competition. The draw for the club competition was staged on Monday, 16 December in Marrakech, Morocco.

The Round of 16 matches will be played between February 28 and March 9, while the final qualifying-round matches are scheduled for March 21-30.

Several past winners of Africa's foremost club competition - Zamalek, Enyimba and Raja Casablanca - will be involved in the preliminary rounds.

Chiefs will be going into the CAF Championship at the back of their past Continental experience when they became the first South African club to lift the trophy that carries the name of the late Icon Nelson Mandela, when they won the African Cup Winners' Cup in 2001.