Downs renew AS Vita battle

Pitso Mosimane’s Mamelodi Sundowns will renew their rivalry with Democratic Republic of Congo side AS Vita in the 2017 Caf Champions League group stages, after the defending champions were drawn in a tricky Group C on Wednesday in Cairo.

The duo went head-to-head in a group stage qualifier in last year’s Champions League, which saw Vita eliminate Sundowns, but the Congolese were kicked out for fielding an ineligible player in the preliminary qualifying rounds. Sundowns were reinstated into the group stages, and went on an amazing run to win the trophy.

There will be a sense of revenge for Vita, with the pair set to meet on May 23-24 in the DRC and on July 7-9 in Pretoria.

Group C also has Tunisian giants Esperance, by far the most successful side in the group, having reached three straight Champions League finals between 2010 and 2012, winning in 2011.

They also won the Champions League in 1994 and were finalists in 1999 and 2000.

Rounding-off the group are Ethiopians Saint George, who will be Sundowns’ first opponents in Pretoria on May 12-14.

Saint George had an impressive qualification for the group stages, not conceding a goal as they beat Cote D’Or of the Seychelles and AC Leopards of Congo-Brazzaville.

The squad includes former Orlando Pirates midfielder Yasser Mugerwa of Uganda.

SuperSport United, meanwhile, will go up against another DR Congo giant in the group stages of the Caf Confederation Cup. TP Mazembe lie in wait for Stuart Baxter’s (above) men, the 2016 Caf Confederation Cup winners, who Sundowns beat in the Caf Super Cup earlier this year.

Group D also consists of Guinean side Horoya and Gabon’s CF Mounana, who Pirates beat 5-3 on aggregate in the preliminary rounds en route to reaching the final of the 2015 Confederation Cup.

SuperSport open their group stage campaign at home to Horoya on May 12-14.

Platinum Stars face tough north African opposition in Caf Confederation Cup Group B, in the form of Tunisian side CS Sfaxien and Algeria’s MC Alger. Sfaxien have won this competition a record three times, in 2007, 2008 and 2013.

Also in Platinum Stars’ group are fellow southern African side, Swaziland’s Mbabane Swallows.

Dikwena start their campaign at home to MC Alger on May 12-14.