Orlando Pirates have been placed in the Group of Death alongside Egyptian giants Al Ahly.
The group-stage draw that took place in Cairo on Monday afternoon, featured two South African teams in the Champions League. Pirates have Stade Abidjan, Chabab Belouizdad and Al Ahly. The Sea Robbers and the Red Devils have a score to settle.
The last time both teams played together in the group stages, the two teams went on to play in the final. Jose Riveiro’s will now test themselves against the continent’s best in the next few months.
Orlando Pirates will battle Al Ahly in the CAF Champions League
Mamelodi Sundowns who are also in the Champions League, are placed in Group B. They will now have to do battle with two Moroccan teams in their group to secure a passage to the quarter-finals.
Masandwana lost out to Esperance of Tunisia last season in the semi-final of the competition. Their rivals Orlando Pirates are in a very unfamiliar territory having not qualified for CAF Champions League group stages in five years.
Here is how the CAF CL group looks:
Group A
TP Mazembe (COD), Young Africans (TAN), Al Hilal (SUD), Mouloudia Alger (ALG)
Group B
Mamelodi Sundowns (RSA), Raja Casablanca (MAR), FAR Rabat (MAR), Maniema Union (COD)
Group C
Al Ahly (EGY, holders), Chabab Belouizdad (ALG), Orlando Pirates (RSA), Stade Abidjan (CIV)
Group D
Esperance (TUN), Pyramids (EGY), Sagrada Esperanca (ANG), Djoliba (MLI)
Can the Buccaneers find a way out of this tricky group?
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