Questions over Sierra Leone's Champions League entry

Mamelodi Sundowns win the 2016 African Champions League

South Africans Mamelodi Sundowns will begin the defence of their African Champions League title in the second round against either KCCA of Uganda or Angola's Primero de Agosto.

A new format means there will be two qualifying rounds prior to a 16-team group phase, double last year's tally.

Sierra Leone's FA Cup winners FC Johansen will face Morocco's FUS Rabat.

This is despite tournament regulations saying only national league winners can contest the competition.

"If for any reason, the national league of a federation did not take place, the federation in question has the right to submit the participation request of the same club(s) engaged having played the national league from the previous season," state Confederation of African Football (Caf) regulations.

"If for any reason, the national league of a federation was stopped for more than a year, the federation in question cannot engage any club in Caf Champions League."

There has not been a completed league season in Sierra Leone since 2013.

The championship ended prematurely in 2014 due to the outbreak of Ebola which also meant it could not be held in 2015 while the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) has not organised a league this year.

The SLFA has refused to comment on the matter while Caf simply referred to the regulations on their website.

FC Johansen were founded and are owned by Isha Johansen, the current president of the SLFA.

It would a second outing in continental club football for her club after they played in the 2013 Confederation Cup.

Confederation Cup holders and five-time winners TP Mazembe of DR Congo have also been given a bye into the second round as have seven other teams: USM Alger (Algeria), Etoile du Sahel (Tunisia), Esperance (Tunisia), Zamalek (Egypt), Al Ahly (Egypt), Wydad Casablanca (Morocco) and Al Hilal (Sudan).

The preliminary round will feature a total of 46 teams and kicks off on 10-12 February.

Wednesday's draw took place at Caf headquarters in the Egyptian capital Cairo.

Click here for the full Champions League fixtures, and here for the Confederation Cup draw.