The draw for the group stages of the 2019 CAF Champions League was made on Friday, December 28th conducted in Cairo, Egypt and it sees Lobi Stars of Nigeria facing tough opponents.

Nigeria's lone representative at this year's edition of the continent most prestigious  club competition was drawn in Group A alongside three former winners; ASEC Mimosas of Ivory Coast, South Africa's Mamelodi Sundowns and Wydad de Casablanca of Morocco.

The Ortom Boys as they are nicknamed, Lobi Stars last participation in a continental challenge was in 2013 when they exited in the first round of the CAF Confederation Cup.

Lobi defeated Liga Desportiva de Maputo of Mozambique 3-1 in the first leg but were harshly beaten 7-1 in the return fixture.

This will be their first appearance in the CAF Champions League group stage since  2000. That year, they failed to progress to the next round of competition, having been drawn with Hearts of Oak of Ghana, Egypt's Al Alhy and Jeanne d'Arc from Senegal.

Tehcnical adviser, Coach Solomon Ogbeide and his side on the road to the group stage of this edtion suffered two away defeats in all of their away fixtures.

A 1-0 loss to UMS de Loum of Cameroon and 3-1 defeat in the hands of Gor Mahia of Kenya. However, they secured a 2-0 decisive victories in the return legs.

In other to stand a chance of quarter final progession, the 2018 Nigerian champions will have to make good use of their home advantage when playing at the Nnamdi Azikiwe stadium, as records shows that their opponents are poor travellers.

Mamelodi Sundowns have recorded just one win in their last seven away games and they have lost 11 of their last 28 games away from South Africa. But in front of their fans it is 22 wins in 29 games and just one defeat.

Wydad de Casablanca on their part enjoy a much lower fortune away from home. The 19-time Moroccan champions have just two wins in their past 31 games, with 15 losses and 14 draws in the process. Though at home, it is one defeat, five draws and 25 wins in the last 31 matches.

ASEC Mimosas in contrast have managed to get results on home soil and away fixtures. The Mimos are unbeaten in their last four away games and have won five of their recent 10 games in the CAF competition. At home it is just two defeats in their past ten games

Prior to their champions league kick-off  campaign at home on January 13th against Mamelodi Sundowns, the Ortom Boys have resumed training this Sunday in Ijebu-Ode.