Al-Zamalek drawn against African Club and MC Alger in 'African Champions'

The group stage draw for the CAF Champions League was held yesterday at the headquarters of the Egyptian Football Association in the Sixth of October City. Group A features Tunisia’s Esperance, Angola’s Petro de Luanda, Mauritania’s Nouakchott, and Angola’s Wiliete. Group B includes Egypt’s Zamalek, Tunisia’s Étoile du Sahel, Tanzania’s Young Africans, and Algeria’s Moloudia of Algiers. Group C comprises Morocco’s Raja Casablanca, Tanzania’s Simba, South Africa’s Orlando Pirates, and Cameroon’s Coton Sport. Group D consists of Egypt’s Pyramids FC, Sudan’s Al Hilal, Guinea’s Horoya, and Morocco’s FUS Rabat.

The group stage matches will kick off in November next year, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the quarter-finals, after which the knockout stages will begin.

The draw for the CAF Confederation Cup also produced a heavyweight clash between Egypt’s Al Ahly and Morocco’s Raja Casablanca, as both were placed in Group A alongside Togo’s ASKO Kara and Angola’s Primeiro de Agosto. Group B includes Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca, Libya’s Al Ahly Tripoli, Tanzania’s Azam FC, and South Africa’s Durban City. Group C features DR Congo’s Maniema Union, Tanzania’s Singida Black Stars, Zambia’s Red Arrows, and one of three possible opponents: Algeria’s JS Kabylie, Mauritania’s ASC Diaraf, or Guinea’s Hafia FC. Group D comprises Algeria’s USM Alger, Tunisia’s ES Sfax, Mozambique’s Black Bulls, and Mali’s Real Bamako.