Titleholders South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns have been handed a tricky draw for the group stage of this year’s African Champions League.
As well as debutants Saint George of Ethiopia in Group C they will face Esperance of Tunisia and DR Congo’s AS Vita Club, who have both been continental champions in the past.
Sudan’s two biggest clubs have been draw in Group A as Al Hilal and Al Merreikh are joined my Etoile du Sahel of Tunisia and Mozambique’s Ferroviario Beira
The reward for Zimbabwean debutants CAPS United, who beat five-time champions TP Mazembe of DR Congo, is three trips to North Africa.
They are in Group B alongside last year’s runners-up Zamalek from Egypt, Algeria’s USM Alger and Al Ahly Tripoli of Libya.
The first group will be played on the weekend of 12-14 May with the top two teams in each group progressing to the quarer-finals.
The first leg of the final is set for the last weekend in October and the second leg being played a week later.
African Champions League:
| Group A | Group B |
| Etoile du Sahel (Tunisia) | Zamalek (Egypt) |
| Al Hilal (Sudan) | USM Alger (Algeria) |
| Al Merreikh (Sudan) | Al Ahly Tripoli (Libya), |
| Ferroviario Beira (Mozambique) | CAPS Utd (Zimbabwe) |
| Group C | Group D |
| Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa, holders) | Al Ahly (Egypt) |
| Esperance (Tunisia) | Wydad Casablanca (Morocco) |
| AS Vita Club (DR Congo) | Coton Sport (Cameroon) |
| Saint George (Ethiopia) | Zanaco (Zambia) |
