Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates have joined a list of some of the most elite clubs in the CAF Champions League group stages after the qualifying rounds were wrapped up over the weekend.
Sundowns, the champions of Africa in 2016, have qualified for the group stages yet again and it was a comfortable victory over Eswatini side Mbabane Swallows.
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The Tshwane giants cruised to a 8-0 aggregate victory, as head coach Manqoba Mngqithi gave an opportunity to some of the non-regulars in the second leg.
The group stage draw will be conducted on October 7 and Sundowns will be in pot 1 with Al Ahly, Esperance and TP Mazembe.
Pirates, meanwhile, return to the Champions League group stages for the first time since 2018/19 after redeeming themselves against Botswana Premier League champions Jwaneng Galaxy. Knocked out by Jwaneng last season, the Buccaneers bounced back with a 3-0 aggregate victory over Morena Ramoreboli's side and will get to compete in the group stages with some of Africa's best clubs.
Ahead of the draw, the Soweto giants will be in pot 3 with Al Hilal, Sagrada Esperanca and AS FAR.
Sundowns and Pirates will not be the only ones representing South Africa in the group stages. Elias Mokwana has qualified for the round robin phase with Tunisian giants Esperance, who were in the final last season. Khanyisa Mayo will also be part of the group stages with Algerian outfit CR Belouizdad and Fagrie Lakay will turn out for Egyptian side Pyramids.
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Pot 1
Al Ahly (Egypt)
Esperance (Tunisia)
Mamelodi Sundowns
TP Mazembe (DR Congo)
Pot 2
CR Belouizdad (Algeria)
Raja Casablanca (Morocco)
Young Africans (Tanzania)
Pyramids (Egypt)
Pot 3
Al Hilal (Sudan)
Orlando Pirates
Sagrada Esperanca (Angola)
AS FAR (Morocco)
Pot 4
MC Alger (Algeria)
Djoliba (Mali)
AS Maniema Union (DRC)
Stade d'Abidjan (Ivory Coast)
