Mamelodi Sundowns have been drawn into a tough CAF Champions League group.
The DStv Premiership champions will face Al Ahly (Egypt), Coton Sport (Cameroon) and Al Hilal (Sudan) in Group B of the continental competition.
Sundowns cruised past the group stages last season, winning five of their six matches and drawing the other. They scored 10 goals and conceded twice during the round robin phase, but they were knocked out of the quarterfinals by Angolan outfit Petro de Luanda.
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The DStv Premiership champions are determined to go further in the competition this time round, having been knocked out in the quarterfinals of the last three editions. The Siya crew understands that Sundowns are looking to bolster their squad during the January transfer window in an effort to get their hands on a second Champions League title, with Cape Town City striker Khanyisa Mayo high on their list of targets at the moment.
Sundowns have not reached the semi-finals of the competition since 2018/19 and recently appointed head Rulani Mokwena will have a big job on his hands to get the team there.
Sundowns is not the only team representing South Africa on the continent in a group stage campaign. Limpopo outfit Marumo Gallants has qualified for the Confederation Cup group stages for the first time in their history and they will come up against Algerian side USM Alger, DRC's St Eloi Lupopo and Al Akhdar of Libya.
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This is the second time Gallants are competing in the competition, having been knocked out in the qualifying rounds previously.