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CAF CL

CAF CL group stage draw throws up some historic clashes

The CAF Champions League round of 16 draw was held in Egypt on Friday and produced some highly anticipated face-offs between the continent's giants.

Update:
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - African Champions League Final - Zamalek v Al Ahly - Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt - November 27, 2020  Al Ahly celebrate with the trophy after winning the final REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh/File Photo
AMR ABDALLAH DALSHREUTERS

The group stage draw for the 2020-21 CAF Champions League was staged on Friday at CAF headquarters in Cairo with the champions and the runners-up placed in two different groups.

Nine-time champions Al-Ahly share Group A with Veta Club of Congo, Simba of Tanzania, and Sudanese side Al-Merrikh, while their historical Egyptian rivals and last season's runners-up Zamalek will compete in Group D with Espérance Sportive de Tunis, Algerian club MC Alger and Senegal's Teungueth FC.

CAF Group B one to watch 

The draw has also seen the formation of a fiery second group that comprises Mazembe of Congo, 2016 champions Mamelodi Sundowns, Sudan's Al-Hilal, and CR Belouizdad of Algeria.

Al-Ahly won the title last season with a 2-1 win over city rivals Zamalek at Cairo International Stadium to secure a first continental title under their new coach Pitso Mosimane, who took charge of the team ahead of the semi-final.

Arabian teams participating in this year's edition combined have won the title on 21 occasions: Al-Ahly have lifted the trophy nine times, followed by Zamalek (5), Espérance Sportive de Tunis (4) Wydad (2) and MC Alger (1).

Non-Arabian teams combined have won the title 7 times, with Mazembe on top with five wins, followed by Mamelodi Sundowns and Veta Club, who have won the coveted title once each.

Round of 16 groups:

Group A: Al-Ahly- Veta Club- Simba- AlMerrikh.

Group B: Mazembe- Mamelodi Sundowns- Al-Hilal- CR Belouizdad.

Group C: Wydad Casablanca- Horoya- Atlético Petróleos- Kaizer Chiefs.

Group D: Espérance Sportive- Zamalek- MC Alger- Teungueth.