South African giants Mamelodi Sundowns will meet defending champions Al Ahly in the 2021/2022 CAF Champions League group stages following Tuesday’s draw in Cairo.
The Brazilians are riding high in this season’s Dstv Premiership, where they are currently 14 points ahead of second placed Orlando Pirates having, but they’ll have their work cut out to advance from the group stage of Africa’s premier club competition after receiving a tough draw.
Al Ahly, who are ten-time African champions, were arguably the team to avoid of the Pot 4 sides, while Jwaneng Galaxy and Amazulu represent banana skins after eliminating Simba SC and TP Mazembe in the last round.
As well as winning African Champions League for second time in a row, Al Ahly retained CAF Super Cup trophy following 6-5 penalty win against Raja Casablanca.
The reunion affords Downs the opportunity to take a measure of revenge against the team that eliminated them from last year’s CAF CL quarter final.
Sundowns and Al Ahly were placed in Group A alongside Sudanese duo of Al Hilal and Al Merreikh.
Group B features Confederation Cup champions Raja Club Athletic of Morocco, Guinea’s Horoya AC, ES Setif of Algeria and South African side Amazulu.
Tunisian rivals Esperance du Tunis and Etoile du Sahel head lined Group C where they will face Algeria’s CR Belouizdad and Jwaneng Galaxy of Botswana.
Group D appears to be the most open of the four pools, as while Wydad Casablanca and Zamalek looks the favorites, two Angolan side Petro Atletico and GD Sagrada Esperanca will be fighting to make to the last 16.
The group stage for the continental competition begins with Matchday 1 on the weekend of 11-13 February and wraps up with Matchday 6 on the weekend of 1-3 April.
CAF Champions League group stage draw results:
Group A
Al Ahly (Egypt) – Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) – Al Hilal (Sudan) – Al Merriekh (Sudan)
Group B
Raja (Morcco) – Horoya (Guinea) – ES Setif (Algeria) – AmaZulu (South Africa)
Group C
Esperance (Tunisia) – Etoile du Sahel (Tunisia) – CR Belouizdad (Algeria) – Jwaneng Galaxy (Botswana)
Group D
Wydad (Morocco) – Zamalek (Egypt) – Petro Atletico (Angola) – GD Sagrada Esperanca (Angola)
