Sundowns draw Pitso’s Al-Ahly in Champions League draw

While Orlando Pirates got a favourable draw in the Caf Confederation Cup, it is Mamelodi Sundowns who have been placed in what appears to be one of the picks of the group stages they drew defending champions Al-Ahly, and of course, that’s what makes Group A the more exciting is that Pitso Mosimane will face his former team.

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Al Hilal of Sudan and Al Merrikh make up the group where they are expected to be outsiders given Downs and the Red Devil’s recent form in the competition over the last couple of seasons. While “Jingles” will get an opportunity to visit South African shores when the record holders travel to the capital city, he is confident that his side can go all the way and claim the coveted trophy for a record extending 11^th time and for the third time on the spin.

It will be the fourth season on the trot that Masandawana and the Red Devils meet, but the first time in the group stages. Mosimane, who was pulling out the balls in both draws, cut a very confident figure ahead of the group stage opener in February next year.

“When I was with Sundowns, we always played Wydad Casablanca, we played them for four seasons in a row, so it is interesting, let’s play Sundowns. They want to beat us but we have been beating them for the last two years so it is okay,” said Mosimane.     

“Look at the history of the team, they had not won it for seven years, it is that difficult to win the Champions League, it is not easy. But we believe we can win it, why not? We can win it for the third time because if we won it once, then win it for the second time in a row, why don’t you believe you can win it the third time… we have a team to win it,” Mosimane added.

Debutants AmaZulu were drawn with last season’s Confed Cup winners, Raja Casablanca of Morocco alongside AC Horoya and ES Setifienne of Guinea and Algeria respectively.    

Meanwhile, Fadlu Davids and Mandla Ncikazi are smiling after the Sea Robbers were drawn into what seems like a less competitive group in the Caf Confederation Cup. The Buccaneers were drawn into Group B where they were paired with JS Saoura of Algeria, Al Littihad of Libya while either R. Leopards of Eswatini or JS Kabyile of Algeria.