African Champions League: Pyramids to Face Familiar Foe in Group Stage

African Champions League holders Pyramids of Egypt will be up against a familiar foe in the group phase of this year’s competition but were also drawn with two other debutants. Pyramids beat Renaissance Berkane of Morocco 1-0 in last month’s African Super Cup in Cairo but were paired with them again at the draw in Johannesburg. Berkane are one of four clubs in the 16-team field who have never previously competed in the group stage, but after winning the Moroccan league and African Confederation Cup last season were one of the four top seeds for the draw. Power Dynamos of Zambia and Nigeria’s Rivers United are also debutants in the group phase and were drawn with the holders in Group A. Record victors Al Ahly of Egypt, who have won the continent’s top club prize 12 times, face stiff North African opposition from former winners JS Kabylie of Algeria and Morocco’s Royal Armed Forces in Group B. Al Ahly have reached the Champions League group phase for an 11th successive edition, as have the South Africans Mamelodi Sundowns, who were top seeds in Group C.