The African Champions League draw-resulted title holders Ahly to face South African side Mamelodi Sundowns at the quarterfinals for the third time in row, and the fifth time in general.

The Cairo giants faced Sundowns for the first time at the quarterfinals in the 2019 edition of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League when the South Africans - coached by Pitso Mosimane - smashed Ahly by five goals with no reply in the first leg, then Ahly won at home 1-0.

The Reds had the chance to take revenge, after the humiliating defeat and after being eliminated, when they faced each other again at the quarterfinals of the 2020 edition.

Ahly won at home 2-0 then succeeded in finishing the second leg match 1-1. Later, they won the title under the leadership of the former Sundowns' coach Mosimane.

They met twice before in the Champions League. Their first ever encounter was during the 2001 final when Ahly held them to a scoreless draw in South Africa before winning the return leg 3-0 to claim their fifth African title. Then the Red Devils defeated Sundowns 4-2 on aggregate in the Round of 16 of the 2007 edition.

The Reds managed to secure their ticket in the quarterfinals after reaching 11 points by the end of the group stage to be in second place behind Tanzania’s Simba, who topped group A with 13 points.

Ahly, who settled their qualification to the knockout stage one round before the end of the group stage, won three games, tied in two and lost one game only.

Meanwhile, the South African side finished on the top of its group B with 13 points, with four victories, one loss and one tie.

CAF revealed that the first legs will take place on May 14/15 while the second legs are to take place on May 21/22.

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