SA trio set to know Caf fate

CAIRO, Egypt: The draw of the group phase of the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup here today sees the qualified clubs drawn from 19 countries.

Tunisia leads the pack with the maximum representation in the two competitions, two each and four in all. Since 1997, Tunisian clubs have won seven continental club championships (two CAF Champions League and five CAF Confederation Cup), and have been a constant feature at this stage.

Their representatives are Esperance and Etoile du Sahel for the CAF Champions League, and the pair of Club Africain and CS Sfaxien in the CAF Confederation Cup.

Despite security concerns compelling clubs to play behind closed doors since 2011, Egyptian clubs continue to be a force to be reckoned with.

Egypt has three clubs, after El Masry failed to become the fourth. Since the launch of the group phase in 1997, Egypt has seven CAF Champions League titles, six for Al Ahly and one for rivals Zamalek.

Ahly also won the CAF Confederation Cup in 2014. Alexandria-based Smouha complete the Egyptian trio.

Also with three clubs each is South Africa, with African champions, Mamelodi Sundowns looking set to defend their title in the CAF Champions League. Platinum Stars and Supersport United are the others and will play in the second-tier championship.

Sudan equally has three clubs with debutants and rising force Hilal Obeid the surprise packets in the CAF Confederation Cup. Traditional giants, El Merreikh and El Hilal are in the CAF Champions League.

Algeria, DR Congo, Morocco and Zambia have a club each in the two competitions.

One-club countries include Swaziland, whose Mbabane Swallows will campaign in the CAF Confederation Cup.