The two-legged tie pits the Botswana side against one of East Africa’s most successful and well-supported clubs. Young Africans, popularly known as Yanga, enter the competition as strong favourites given their consistent performances in recent continental campaigns and their status as one of Tanzania’s leading teams.
The winner of the Gaborone United–Young Africans encounter will advance to the second preliminary round, where they will meet the victor between CFFA of Madagascar and Lijabatho FC of Lesotho.
That subsequent tie will determine which club progresses to the group stage of Africa’s premier club competition.
The draw presents an early test for Gaborone United as they begin their journey in the CAF Champions League, while Young Africans will be aiming to navigate the preliminary rounds and secure a place among the continent’s elite once again.
Both first-round matches will be played over two legs, with the aggregate winners moving forward in the competition. The path to the group stage remains challenging, but the ties offer all four clubs a chance to make their mark on the continental stage.