Orlando Pirates gets Al Ahly, Sundowns draw Nasreddine Nabi's former team.
South African giants Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates avoided each other but still landed tough opponents in the CAF Champions League group stages.
Following the draw conducted in Cairo, Egypt on Monday, Sundowns landed in Group B alongside Kaizer Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi’s former club ASFAR, Maniema Union and the club that Pitso Mosimane is linked to, Raja Casablanca.
Meanwhile, Pirates are in Group C and have what can be termed ‘Group of Death’ that also includes defending champions Al Ahly from Egypt, home to Bafana Bafana forward Percy Tau, Khanyisa Mayo’s Tunisian club CR Belouizdad and Stade d’Abidjan from the Ivory Coast.
Can Sundowns go one better this season?
Sundowns have experience at this level as this is their 10th successive season qualifying for the group stage round and will be looking to go one better than the last two seasons when they were eliminated at the semi-final.
The PSL champions have earmarked the Champions League as their measure of success with Rulani Mokwena’s inability to win it cited as one of the reasons for his departure at the end of last season and his successor Manqoba Mngqithi has his work cut out.
However, he has a tough job against the two Moroccan giants with Congolese side Maniema also set to offer resistance.
For Pirates, it is a return to the big time for the first time in five years and it is a new territory for their coach Jose Riveiro whose two years and three months at the club has yielded five domestic cup wins.
Pirates’ squad depth will be put to test
The Champions League will test Riveiro’s mettle to the limit as well as his squad given a big number of his players lack continental experience and it does not get harder than facing 12-time champions Al Ahly.
Playing Champions League as well as league action will stretch the resources at Riveiro’s disposal and he will have to manage his squad well to be able to challenge on multiple fronts.
Group stage action will kick off on the weekend of November 26-27, with the final matches to be played on January 17-18.
