Just as football fans were still riding on the MTN8 final wave, the exciting start to the Betway Premiership, and the Carling Knockout round of 16 draw this past week, everyone is now setting their sights on the upcoming CAF Champions League and Confederations Cup next month.
Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates and Stellenbosch FC are the three teams that will be representing South Africa in the two respective continental cup competitions.
The Champions League and Confederations Cup draw was held on Monday last week, which saw the three Mzansi teams being pitted against some of the best teams on the continent.
Sunday World looks at some of the tough opponents the Buccaneers, the Brazilians and Stellies are set to go toe-to-toe against in this season’s African safari.
Orlando Pirates
The MTN8 champions will be returning to the Caf interclub competition for the first time since the 2018/19 season and what a way to return, as they will be going up against defending champions and Percy Tau’s Al Ahly in Group C.
Al Ahly goes into every Champions League as favourites due to their agonising dominance of the competition. They currently hold a record 12 Champions League titles, including the last two editions and four of the last five.
The last time the two sides met, Ahly beat the Pirates 2-0 in the Champions League final in 2013 in Cairo, under coach Roger de Sa.
Another rigorous task that awaits the Buccaneers is that of CR Belouizdad of Algeria, who now have a South African international in their books, Khanyisa Mayo.
Despite starting their league season with three draws out of three, the Algerians are expected to pick up form as the season progresses, having bolstered their squad with the likes of Mayo and former Leicester City talisman Islam Slimani.
Bucs’ Namibian international Deon Hotto and his red-hot teammates Relebohile Mofokeng, Monnapule Saleng and Thalente Mbatha will be looking to leave a mark on continental football.
Mamelodi Sundowns
Set to make their 11th Champions League appearance in a row, South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns will be hoping that this could be the season that their Champions League dream is realised.
However, the Brazilians did not get an easy draw, as they were pitted alongside Moroccan giants Raja Casablanca and AS FAR in Group B, including Maniema Union of the DR Congo, who will be the dark horse.
Raja and AS FAR took the Botola Premier League down to the wire, as they finished last season as number one and two, respectively.
Sundowns players Thapelo Morena, Aubrey Modiba, Khuliso Mudau and Peter Shalulile are now experienced campaigners on the continent and they know what it takes to compete.
Stellenbosch FC
RS Berkane is probably going to be the biggest challenge for Stellies in their Group B. The Moroccans know their way around the Confederations Cup, as they were runners-up after falling short to Zamalek in the final last season.
Berkane won the competition during the 2021/22 season when they beat the Pirates 5-4 on penalties. Just like Stellies, they finished third in the league last season and have started the new campaign pretty well.
The other two teams that Steve Barker and his troops will have to brace themselves for are Stade Malien of Mali and CD Lunda-Sul of Angola, who knocked out Sekhukhune United on the away goal rule in the preliminary rounds.
And with players like Fawaaz Basadien, Lehlohonolo Mojela and Jayden Adams, Stellies can go far in the tournament.
