CAF Champions League quarter-final: Who are Sundowns potential opponents?

Mamelodi Sundowns are staring at the possibility of a nightmare CAF Champions League quarter-final draw.

Sundowns sealed their place in the quarter-final after edging out Rulani Mokwena’s MC Alger 2-0 in their final group stage match on Saturday and will now await the draw set to be conducted in Cairo on Tuesday afternoon.

However, Sundowns’ biggest problem is that they finished second in Group C and that means they will be paired with one of the sides that finished top in the other groups.

Who are Sundowns’ possible opponents?

Sudanese giants Al-Hilal finished top in Group C and will not be paired with Sundowns but the PSL champions are likely to land either record 12-time winners Al Ahly, defending champions Pyramids and Stade Malien from Mali.

Pyramids were the winners of Group A while Al Ahly topped Group B as Stade Malien emerged tops in Group D.

Of the three, Sundowns know Al Ahly and Pyramids too well and faced off with the two sides last season.

Miguel Cardoso’s team met Al Ahly in the semi-final last season, playing out a goalless draw at home, before a 1-1 draw away, that saw them make it to the final on the away goals rule.

Pyramids denied PSL champions CAFCL title

In the final, they met Pyramids, who beat them 3-1, to win the title for the first time in their history and the Egyptian club has been going from strength to strength since then.

With both Egyptian teams keen to have another extended run in the competition, Sundowns will have their work cut out if they land either of the two.

Meanwhile, this is the first time Stade Malien have made it to the quarter-final and they could be a tricky but perhaps an easy opponent for Sundowns given their lack of experience at this level.