CAIRO – South African Premier Soccer League champions Mamelodi Sundowns will face off against top African sides such as Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca in the CAF Champions League.
The draw for the group stages was conducted in Egypt, Cairo on Wednesday night where coach Pitso Mosimane’s side will also face the likes of Petro Atletico of Angola and USM Alger from Algeria.
After reaching the lucrative group stage for the fifth consecutive year, Sundowns will be hoping to clinch their second CAF Champions League trophy when they participate in this year’s group stage campaign, but they will face a daunting task this year.
“For a third year running, Mamelodi Sundowns have been drawn in the same group as Wydad Casablanca in the CAF Champions League,” said Sundowns in a statement.
“The group stages draw was conducted in the Egypt capital, Cairo, on Wednesday night and the Brazilians now have a date with their fierce counterparts from Morocco in what is now becoming a battle between two teams who know each other well.
“Sundowns were drawn in the same group as Wydad in March last year for the 2018 edition of the continental tournament and then again a few months later for the new edition, which came quickly as CAF was making room for the Africa Cup of Nations.
“In our home leg in the group stages during the previous edition of the Champions League, the Brazilians were 2-1 winners against Wydad at the Lucas Moripe Stadium, while they hit back with a 1-0 victory themselves in Morocco.”
Having reached the stage after facing the likes of AS Otoho d’Oyo of Congo and Cote d’Or from Seychelles in the previous rounds, they will now target a spot beyond the semi-finals, a stage they reached last year.
New Champions League….New Challenge. We come to Morocco so many times….it is my 2nd home!!!! 🇿🇦🇲🇦 im also excited for the new challenge of Petro and USMA #sundowns #wydad #petro #usma pic.twitter.com/tgot3BVgkP
— Pitso Mosimane (@TheRealPitso) October 10, 2019
Masandawana eased past the Congolese via 5-2 aggregate scoreline before thrashing the Islanders 16-1 over a two-legged affair, thus setting a record in the continental tournament.
Moreover, the former Bafana Bafana boss is aware that the real test awaits them in the group stages where they were in Pot B together with Etoile du Sahel‚ Raja Casablanca and the winner between Zamalek and Generation Foot.
Although the Confederation of African Football (CAF) did not announce the dates of the clashes, DailyAfrika has gathered that the group phase kicks off in November and runs until March.
The top two finishers in each group advance to the quarter-finals, which starts in April and Sundowns will target their second continental star to make them the most successful team in South Africa.
🔡 | Total CAF Champions League – Group Stage
🚨 BIG matches ahead!
Let the #TotalCAFCL matches begin.. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/S1WWUNIWyn
— CAF (@CAF_Online) October 9, 2019
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