Soccer-Holders Al Ahli get bye in African Champions League

— -- CAIRO, Dec 22 - African Champions League holders Al Ahli of Egypt have been given a bye into the second round of next year's competition and will only know their opponents when the first round is completed in March. The Cairo club begin the defence of their title against Red Sea of Eritrea or Kenya's champions, who have yet to be decided. Tunisia's Etoile Sahel, who are this year's Champions League runners-up, and Morocco's champions Royal Armed Forces, winners of the 2005 African Confederation Cup, also have byes. Almost all the other major contenders for the African title have been handed relatively easy starts. Next year's field includes nine past winners, including the Nigerian side Enyimba who were champions in 2003 and 23004. Their first round opponents in February are Mangasport of Gabon. Clubs must play three knockout rounds until the final eight clubs are determined before the league phase begins earlier than usual in mid-May because of the World Cup finals in Germany. The tiny Comores islands have entered for the first time with Coin Nord Mitsamiouli drawn against AS Port Louis 2000 from fellow Indian Ocean island Mauritius. There are four police teams in this year's draw from Botswana, Congo, Uganda and Zanzibar. Twelve countries are allowed to enter two teams while the rest of Africa's 53 members have only one representative. (Writing by Mark Gleeson in Johannesburg)