Zimpapers Logo

Junior Binyam

THE Confederation of African Football have not yet set a date for the Caf Champions League group stage draw, with Mamelodi Sundowns waiting to find out their opponent.

It was originally thought that the draw for the CCL would take place yesterday on the same day as the Caf Confederation Cup play-off draw, although that has not been the case.

Bidvest Wits, SuperSport United and Platinum Stars found out that they will be facing Smouha SC of Egypt, Barrack Young Controllers from Liberia and Cote d’Ivoire’s AS Tanda in the Caf Confederation Cup, with all three South African clubs hoping to land a place in the group stages.

Caf’s director of communications Junior Binyam confirmed that it is yet to be decided when the draw will be held for the Champions League group stages, although it is known that those games are due to get underway in May.

Meanwhile, defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns and last year’s finalists Zamalek will be among the top seeds for this year’s Caf Champions League
Former champions Al Ahly and Etoile Du Sahel make up the four top-seeded teams announced by the Confederation of African Football.

Sudan’s El Hilal heads the list in the second tier of seeds along with Tunisia’s Esperance, Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca and USM Alger of Algeria.

The third tier is made up of Sudan giants Al Merriekh, home to Ugandan goalie Jamal Salim, Coton Sport of Cameroon, DR Congo’s AS Vita and Al Ahli Tripoli of Libya while the last tier compromises St George of Ethiopia where Ugandans Robert Odongkara and Yasser Mugerwa ply their trade, Ferroviaro Bera of Mozambique, Zambia champions Zanaco and Caps United.

It is the first time in the history of the competition to have 16 teams in the group stages.

One team from each tier will be allocated in a group with the seedings determined by Caf’s five-year ranking.

Pot 1: Al Ahly (Egypt), Zamalek (Egypt), Etoile Du Sahel (Tunisia) and Mamelodi Sundowns (RSA)

Pot 2: Al Hilal (Sudan), Esperance (Tunisia), Wydad Casablanca (Morocco) and USM Alger (Algeria)

Pot 3: Al Merriekh (Sudan), Coton Sport (Cameroon), AS Vita (DR Congo) and Al Ahli Tripoli (Libya)

Pot 4: St. George (Ethiopia), Ferroviaro Bera (Mozambique), Zanaco (Zambia) and Caps United (Zimbabwe). — Online