Zimpapers Logo

CAIRO  —  The draw of the CAF Champions League group stages conducted yesterday in Cairo was unkind to South African soccer champions Mamelodi Sundowns as they found themselves in Group A with the big boys.

Sundowns were yesterday reinstated in the Champions League in place of DRC’s AS Vita, who were found to have breached the rules by fielding an ineligible player in the group qualifiers.

Pitso Mosimane’s team find themselves in the same group with Enyimba of Nigeria, Zamalek of Egypt and Algerian giants ES Setif.

Zamalek have won the CAF Champions League five times in 1984, 1986, 1993, 1996 and 2002 while Setif have claimed the title twice in 1988 and 2014.

The Nigerian champions have also won the African title twice when they achieved a back-to-back feat in 2003 and 2004.

This is the seventh time the Aba club will play in the group stage of the competition after reaching the last eight in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008 and 2011.

Meanwhile, the Confederation of African Football have explained their decision to reinstate Mamelodi Sundowns to the Champions League following the disqualification of AS Vita Club.

CAF earlier announced Vita – who beat Downs on away-goals earlier in the competition – had been expelled from the group stages for fielding an ineligible player during the preliminary matches of the event.

The continental footballing body has since released a statement, which said: “The CAF Organizing Committee for Interclubs Competitions at its meeting yesterday, 24 May 2016 reviewed a complaint by Stade Malien (Mali) on the eligibility of the player Idrissa Traore used by AS Vita (DR Congo) during the preliminary matches of the 2016 Orange CAF Champions League.

“Traore played with the Malian club during the 2015 season. Whilst featuring for Stade Malien, the CAF Disciplinary Board handed him a four (4) match suspension. He served only one match and the remaining with three (3) matches suspension was carried over to the next competition in line with Articles 114.1 & 114.2 of the CAF Disciplinary Code.

“However, AS Vita fielded him in the preliminary rounds of the 2016 Orange CAF Champions League against Mafunzo of Zanzibar.

“In pursuance of Article VII Clause 9 & 10 of the regulations of the CAF Champions League which borders on Disciplinary Measures, the Organising Committee for Interclubs Competitions decided to disqualify AS Vita from the Orange CAF Champions League, replaced by Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) the last opponent of AS Vita before qualifying for the group phase.

“Clause 9 & 10 state “9.However, the tallying of these sanctions remains the responsibility of the national association and they will assume all responsibilities.

“10. A team which will have committed a fraud on the identity of a player or which will have allowed a suspended or non-qualified player to take part in a match shall lose the match and shall be completely eliminated from the competition as soon as the incriminating facts are clearly established by CAF Organising Committee.”

FULL DRAW
Group A: Zesco (Zambia), Ahly (Egypt), ASEC Mimosas (Ivory Coast), Wydad Athletic (Morocco)

Group B: Enyimba (Nigeria), Zamalek (Egypt), ES Setif (Algeria), Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)
— AFP