The African Football Confederation (CAF) held the draw for the group stage of the Champions League on Friday.
Defending champion Al Ahly has inherited a balanced but affordable Group A where he will be a clear favorite. The Egyptians will also have the advantage of making short trips, mainly in East Africa against the Sudanese neighbors of El Merreikh and against Simba in Tanzania. The Congolese of the AS Vita Club will try to extricate themselves from this group in the company of the Red Devils.
Eliminated by Zamalek, future finalist, in the quarter-finals last season, Esperance Tunis will have the opportunity to take its revenge since it finds the club cairote in a group D not obvious where also appear the MC Algiers and the surprising Senegalese from Teungueth FC who eliminated Raja Casablanca in the previous round.
TP Mazembe and Mamelodi Sundowns will start favorites in Group B, but we must be wary of the Sudanese of Al Hilal, in whom it is never easy to play, and of the Algerians of CR Belouizdad, authors of an excellent start to season (8 wins and 1 draw in all competitions). Finally, Group C promises beautiful duels between Wydad Casablanca, natural favorite but which risks being heckled, the ambitious Horoya AC and the Kaizer Chiefs, in search of their glorious past. Petro Atletico’s Angolans shouldn’t be taken lightly either.
The full draw:
Group A: Al Ahly (Egypt), AS Vita Club (DR Congo), Simba (Tanzania), El Merreikh (Sudan)
Group B: TP Mazembe (DR Congo), Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa), Al Hilal (Sudan), CR Belouizdad (Algeria)
Group C: Wydad Casablanca (Morocco), Horoya (Guinea), Petro Atletico (Angola), Kaizer Chiefs (South Africa)
Group D: Esperance Tunis (Tunisia), Zamalek (Egypt), MC Alger (Algeria), Teungueth FC (Senegal)
The calendar :
Day 1 – February 12/13, 2021
Day 2 – February 23, 2021
3rd day – 5/6 March 2021
Day 4 – March 16, 2021
Day 5 – 2/3 April 2021
Day 6 – April 9/10 2021
