As the reigning champions, Wydad are one of six teams to be given a bye into the second qualifying round of the 2022-23 tournament, which will be held in October.

Africa’s most successful side Al Ahly of Egypt, last season’s beaten finalists, and the 2016 African champions Mamelodi Sundowns from South Africa are also straight into the second round.

The other teams to skip the first round are Tunisia’s Esperance, who are four-time winners, DR Congo’s TP Mazembe and three-time champions Raja Casablanca of Morocco.

Egyptian rivals Al Ahly and Zamalek could possibly face strong North African oppositions in US Monastir of Tunisia and Libya’s Al Ittihad respectively in the second round.

Fifty-two teams, including Cairo giants Zamalek, will enter the first round of qualifying, which will be played over two legs from 9-11 September and 16-18 September.

The 16 winners of the second-round ties will advance to the group stage of the tournament, while beaten sides will drop into play-offs for the Caf Confederation Cup.

Confederation Cup holders RS Berkane of Morocco will play either Kwara United from Nigeria or Niger’s AS Douanes in the second round of qualifying for this year’s second-tier competition.

Five other clubs were also given byes, including three-time champions CS Sfaxien of Tunisia and Tanzania’s Azam FC.

The first two rounds will be held in September and October, with a final play-off round against against African Champions League second qualifying round losers in November.