Sundowns to face Al Ahly in CAF Champions League for fifth season in a row

Mamelodi Sundowns will face Egyptian giants Al Ahly in the CAF Champions League for the fourth season out of the last five after the draw for the continental showpiece took place on Monday morning.

Sundowns have been drawn in Group B along with Ahly after the sides were pooled in Group A last season. The clubs have met seven times in the last five seasons - with Downs getting the better of Ahly in February this year - which saw the Brazilians top the group ahead of their North African counterparts.

Masandawana were unceremoniously dumped out of the competition at the quarterfinal stage by Angolan outfit Petro de Luanda last season, while Ahly lost 2-0 to Wydad Casablanca after making it all the way to the final only to fall at the final hurdle, which resulted in former Brazilians coach Pitso 'Jingles' Mosimane losing his job.

Ahly will determined to make up for last season where they finished behind fierce rivals Zamalek in the league for the second successive season and failed in the CAF Champions League.

Al Hilal of Sudan and Coton Sport of Cameroon are the other two teams in Group B along with the Brazilians and the Team of the Century, also known as the Red Devils.

Sundowns are the only South African side in the CAF Champions League after Cape Town City FC were eliminated in the second preliminary round by Petro. Meanwhile, Marumo Gallants are the sole representatives of the SA teams in the CAF Confederations Cup where they have been pooled with the formidable USMA of Algeria, Libya's Al Alkhder and St Eloi Lupopo of Democratic Republic of the Congo. this, after Royal AM exited 3-0 on aggregate to TP Mazembe of the DRC in the playoff round.

Both group stages will be played from February 11 to April 2.