Mamelodi Sundowns looking forward to ‘African Derby’ against Al Ahly

Mamelodi Sundowns media co-ordinator Khaled Ali has spoken about being drawn with Al Ahly in the group stage of the CAF Champions League.

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Defending champions Al Ahly were handed a tough draw on Tuesday when they were placed in Group A alongside Mamelodi Sundowns and two Sudanese sides, Al Hilal, and Al Merreikh.

After two CAF Champions League titles in a row, Cairo giants Al Ahly now have their eyes set on a third consecutive victory to go down in history as the first team to ever achieve that feat.

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This also marks the fourth consecutive time the Red Devils have drawn Mamelodi Sundowns in the CAF Champions League.

Masandawana knocked the Reds out in the 2019 quarter-finals, before Al Ahly took their revenge twice in a row at the same stage of the competition in 2020 and 2021.

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Coincidently, Mamelodi Sundowns had a similar four consecutive season ‘streak’ with Morocco side Wydad Casablanca, as they faced each other in each edition of the tournament between 2017 and 2020.

Mamelodi Sundowns to will travel to Egypt for the first clash

Khaled Ali believes this will give the Tshwane giants the experience they need for the challenge that lies ahead.

“We got used to meeting the same team four years in a row, it happened before with Wydad,” Ali told the press after the draw, according to the KingFut website.

“This is the fourth time in a row that we face Al Ahly, and this game has now become an African derby,” he added.

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The first match between the two sides will take place in Cairo in match day 3 which is scheduled for the weekend of 25/26 February.

The second clash will take place a fortnight later in Mzansi during match day 4 which has been confirmed for the weekend of 11/12 March.