2022 CAF Champions League group stage draw
The draw for the 2022 CAF Champions League group stages took place today, December 28, 2021, at the Confederation of African Football head quarters in the City of Egypt.
The sixteen qualified teams were split into four pots, with Al Ahly in pot 1 alongside Tunisian giants Esperance de Tunis, and Moroccan sides Wydad Casablanca and Raja Casablanca.
Zamalek were in pot 2, accompanied by South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns, Horoya of Guinea, and Tunisian outfit Etoile du Sahel.
Pot 3 consisted of Sudan’s Al Hilal, Angolan champions Petro de Luanda, and Algeria’s CR Belouizdad and ES Setif while pot 4 included Sudan’s Al Merrikh, Angola’s Sagrada Esperanca, Jwaneng Galaxy of Botswana, and South Africa’s AmaZulu.
Al Ahly go into the group stage as the tournament’s last two editions’ title-holders as they look for a historic achievement that’s never been done in winning their third title in a row.
After the draw, defending champions Al Ahly were placed in a relatively balanced Group A alongside South African powerhouse Mamelodi Sundowns, and Sudan sides Al Hilal and Al Merreikh.
This marks the fourth consecutive time Al Ahly have drawn Sundowns in the CAF Champions League, with the Reds knocking out the South Africans in the last two editions in the quarter-finals.
Meanwhile, the draw also means a return of Pitso Mosimane, Percy Tau, and Luís Miquissone to Pretoria, having represented Sundowns during their career.
Group B of the Champions League draw has Confederation Cup champions Raja Casablanca with Horoya, ES Sétif, and newcomers Amazulu.
Group C will witness a massive Tunisian derby as Esperance de Tunis drew arch-rivals Etoile du Sahel, with Algerian outfit CR Belouizdad and Jwaneng Galaxy of Botswana completing the group.
Group D sees Zamalek drawn alongside Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca and Angola’s Petro de Luanda and Sagrada Esperanca.
The group stage of the CAF Champions League is set to start in February, with the top two spots of each group advancing to the quarter-finals.
