The draw for the CAF Champions League quarter-finals took place today, with Mamelodi Sundowns finding out their opponents.
Sundowns qualified for this stage as one of the group winners, meaning they avoided the other top teams such as defending champions Wydad Athletic Club, four-time winners Esperance Tunis and Raja Athletic Club, who have won the competition thrice.
With Downs and record champions Al Ahly qualifying from the same group, they couldn’t face each other either, with only Algerian duo JS Kabylie and CR Belouizdad as well as Tanzanian giants Simba SC an option for Rulani Mokwena’s men.
In the end it was CR Belouizdad who were drawn against the newly-crowned DStv Premiership champions. The Algerian side finished second behind Esperance Tunis in Group D, with 10 points.
They picked up three wins – two of them against Egyptian giants Zamalek – two draws and just one defeat, while only conceding two goals in the six matches.
They are still unbeaten in the Algerian Ligue 1 this season, picking up 12 wins and four draws in 16 games and hold a four-point advantage over second-placed Constantine, who have played four more games.
Meanwhile, Percy Tau’s Al Ahly were drawn against Raja Casablanca, who had the best record in the group stages with 16 points.
Full CAFCL quarter-final draw:
Simba SC vs Wydad
Al Ahly vs Raja
CR Belouizdad vs Sundowns
Kabylie vs Esperance Tunis
Semi-final draw:
Kabylie/Esperance vs Al Ahly/Raya
Simba/Wydad vs Belouizdad/Sundowns
This year’s final will be played via the home and away match again instead of a final at a neutral venue.
