The official draw of the Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) TotalEnergies CAF Champions League and TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup group stages was held on Monday in Cairo.
A total of 16 clubs engaged in the draw to determine the four groups of four in both the Champions League and Confederation Cup.
In the Champions League, Ahly SC and Pyramids FC of Egypt were drawn in separate groups, with Ahly in Group C while Pyramids settled in Group D.
Champions League titleholders Ahly found themselves alongside Belouizdad of Algeria, Orlando Pirates of South Africa, and Stade d’Abidjan from Cote d’Ivoire.
Pyramids FC were placed in Group D alongside Esperance Tunis of Tunisia, the runners-up in the last edition, Sagrada Esperança of Angola, and Djoliba of Mali.
Egyptian clubs Zamalek and Masri were both drawn in the same group of the Confederation Cup. The two landed in Group D together with Enyimba of Nigeria and Black Bulls Maputo of Mozambique.
Ahly earned their spot in the Champions League group stage with a resounding 6-0 aggregate triumph over Kenya’s Gor Mahia in the second preliminary round of the prestigious tournament. The defending champions are targeting a record-extending 12th Champions League title in this campaign.
Meanwhile, Pyramids FC, the Egyptian Premier League runners-up, secured their place in the group stage by ultimately claiming a 3-2 aggregate victory over Rwanda’s APR FC in the second leg of the preliminary round last month.
Despite finishing as league runners-up, trailing champions Ahly by six points, Gulf-funded Pyramids FC have demonstrated their ambition and increasing influence in African football.
The Champions League draw revealed exciting match-ups. Group A has TP Mazembe (DR Congo), Young Africans (Tanzania), Al-Hilal Omdurman (Sudan) and MC Alger (Algeria).
Group B features two Moroccan clubs, Raja Casablanca and FAR Rabat of Morocco, Maniema Union of DR Congo and Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa.
Group C includes Ahly (Egypt), Belouizdad (Algeria), Orlando Pirates (South Africa) and Stade d’Abidjan (Cote d’Ivoire) while Group D features Esperance Tunis (Tunisia), Pyramids FC (Egypt), Sagrada Esperança (Angola) and Djoliba (Mali).
In the second-tier CAF Confederation Cup, the group stage looks like there will be some excitement games after the draw brought title holders Zamalek against Nigerian giants Enyimba.
The Egyptian side Zamalek were also placed in the same group as their compatriot Masri and Black Bulls in what promises to be an exciting Group D. The “White Castle” are in the hunt to add another Confederation Cup title to their history, but face a tricky group.
Group B features former champions RS Berkane of Morocco, who will look to excel against Mali’s Stade Malien, CD Lundal Sul, and South African debutants Stellenbosch.
Berkane are tipped by some as favourites to advance, but their challengers are determined to disrupt the status quo.
Group C includes former champions USM Alger from Algeria, who will battle ASEC Mimosas, ASC Jaraaf and Orapa United.
With USM Alger’s pedigree and ASEC’s ambition, this group is expected to deliver high-quality football with ASC Jaraaf and Orapa United proving to be no pushovers.
Group A is arguably the “Group of Death”, featuring Simba SC of Tanzania, CS Sfaxien from Tunisia, and Algerian powerhouses CS Constantine.
Angola’s Bravos do Maquis complete the group, but the focus will be on the heavyweight clashes among Simba, Sfaxien, and CS Constantine, all of whom have serious continental credentials.
The draw was carried on by legendary players Naby Keita (Guinea), recently retired Ahmed Fathi (Egypt), Siphiwe Tshabalala (South Africa) and Florent Ibenge (former DR Congo coach), whose outfit was dubbed as the best of the day.
The group stage kicks off in November, setting the stage for some of Africa’s biggest clubs to chase TotalEnergies CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup glory.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 10 October, 2024 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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