Chipolopolo midfielder Obino Chisala has described his team, Al Merrikh’s draw against Power Dynamos in the 2026/27 CAF Champions League preliminary round as a special occasion.

Zambian champions Power Dynamos have been drawn against the Sudanese giants in a tie that will see the Kitwe side travel away for the first leg, scheduled between September 4 and 6, before hosting the return leg a week later.

The winner of the two-legged encounter will face either Algeria’s JS Saoura or Guinea’s Horoya AC in the second preliminary round. The first leg will be played between October 16 and 18, with the return fixture scheduled for October 23 to 25. The winner of that tie will qualify for the group stage of Africa’s premier club competition.

Chisala reacts to the draw.

For Chisala, the fixture is particularly special because it pits him against a club from his home country.

“It feels special for me because Zambia is home, and Power Dynamos is one of the biggest clubs in the country,” Chisala told BolaNews in an exclusive interview. “I have a lot of respect for them and what they achieved last season. But now I’m an Al Merrikh player, so my focus is on helping my team qualify. It’s exciting, and I’m looking forward to a good, competitive match.”

Chisala also expects the match to be emotional, especially as he will be playing in front of his compatriots.

“It will be emotional because I’ll be playing in front of people from my home country. But once the game starts, it’s all about football. I’ll stay professional and give everything for Al Merrikh. I expect a tough match because both teams have quality, but we’re preparing well, and we’re confident in our chances.”

Speaking about his personal ambitions in this season’s CAF Champions League, Chisala said: “My personal target is to help my team qualify for the next round. If I can contribute and help my team (Al Merrikh) progress, I’ll be happy.”