CAF Champions League: Rulani Mokwena and Mamelodi Sundowns to rub shoulders!

Mamelodi Sundowns will play against their former coach Rulani Mokwena, who is currently with Algerian outfit MC Alger.

This will be the first time the 38-year-old will be playing against the defending Premier Soccer League champions following his exit from the South African side two seasons ago. It will also renew the rivalry between coach Miguel Cardoso and Mokwena who met in the 2023/24 semi-final between Esperance and the Brazilians.

Interestingly, Sundowns will also come up against the Democratic Republic of Congo side St Eloi Lupopo, who got past Orlando Pirates in the second preliminary round. The two legs ended 3-3 in aggregate before the Sea Robbers fell 5-4 in the post-match penalty shootout.

CAF Champions League group stage

Group A

• 1 RS Berkane
• 2 Pyramids SC
• 3 Rivers United FC
• 4 Power Dynamos

Group B

• 1 Al Ahly FC
• 2 Young Africans
• 3 AS FAR
• 4 JS Kabilye

Group C

• 1 Mamelodi Sundowns
• 2 Al Hilal SC
• 3 MC Alger
• 4 St. Eloi Lupopo

Group D

• 1 ES Tunis
• 2 Simba SC
• 3 Atletico Petroleos
• 4 Stade Malien

Chiefs in CAF CC’s Group of Death

Meanwhile, Kaizer Chiefs landed a tough draw in the CAF Confederation Cup group stages when they were paired with Egyptian giants Zamalek in the draw conducted in Johannesburg on Monday.

Chiefs, who are among the big clubs in the competition, will have to do it the hard way after getting Zamalek, two-time Confederation Cup winners, who were knocked out by Stellenbosch FC in the quarter-final last season.

In what is considered the ‘Group of Death’, Chiefs will also play Egyptian club Al Masry as well as Zambian giants Zesco United.