THREE clubs have withdrawn from this year’s African club competitions which kick off this weekend, the Confederation of African Football said on Wednesday. Ethiopian club Coffee FC, who achieved a shock first-round win over Egypt’s Al Ahli in last year’s Champions League, have pulled out of the African Cup Winners’ Cup, giving first-round opponents Inter Star of Burundi free passage into the second round in May. In the CAF Cup, Energie Sport of Benin have withdrawn from their match against defending champions CS Sfaxien of Tunisia while Ugandan club Express have pulled out of a trip to meet Medlaw Megbi in Eritrea. Express says they fear for their safety because of the border war between Eritrea and Ethiopia.