With both Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns through to the group stages of the CAF Champions League, the likelihood of the two South African teams facing off in this competition has now increased.
The Buccaneers scraped through following a narrow 1-0 aggregate win over African Stars from Namibia on Saturday in Windhoek, while Sundowns thrashed Libya’s Al Ahly Benghazi 4-0 on the same day to progress.
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CAF’s recent amendment to the the group stages of the continent’s premier club tournament, with four streams instead of just two, has opened up the possibility of two teams from the same association being drawn in the same group – unless they are in the same pot, which is determined by their ranking over a five-year cycle.
The evidence that this could be a reality for Pirates and Sundowns can be found in last year’s edition where ES Setif and MC Alger from Algeria were both in Group B of the 2018 version. CAF confirmed last night that the draw for the group stages will be held on Friday.
Meanwhile, the Buccaneers landed back from Namibia on Sunday and were immediately given a week off to refresh. Their opening fixture of the new year is an away Absa Premiership clash to Highlands Park on January 5, and Downs make the short trip to FNB Stadium to face Kaizer Chiefs on the same date.
