CAF Champions League action resumes on Friday

Africa’s elite football tournament, the CAF Champions League, is set for a return this week with the group stages of the 2023/2024 edition expected to get underway across the continent on Friday

Following thrilling preliminary matches that saw some interesting outcomes and upsets, 16 clubs that advanced to the group stages have been pooled into four pools as the chase for continental glory resumes.

CECAFA region will have three representatives in the group stages with Simba and Yanga African both of Tanzania alongside Al Hilal of Sudan battling to bring the prestigious award to the region. Unfortunately, Kenya for another year running will be without an ambassador in the competition.

The action officially gets underway in Egypt on Friday, 24 November when Pyramids welcomes five-time champions, TP Mazembe who are itching for continental success after last lifting the Champions League trophy in 2015.

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In Tanzania, Simba AC welcomes Ivorian giants, Asec Mimmosas in a Group B encounter that promises fireworks on the Eastern part of the continent on Saturday afternoon.

Later that evening, the world will be treated to a Tunisian affair duel that sees ES Tunis playing host to ES Sahel in Tunis with both sides keen to bring the trophy back to Tunisia after ES Tunis last did in 2019.

In another exciting encounter up North, Africa’s club of the 20th century and six-time CAF Champions Leagues winner Al Ahly plays host to Ghanaian outfit, Medeama in Cairo as the competition’s record holders look to defend their title.

Last season’s runners-up, Wydad AC will be looking to quickly erase their African Football League disappointment when they welcome the high-in-confidence Jwaneng Galaxy of Botswana on Saturday evening, while Mamelodi Sundowns - fresh from their AFL triumph face Mauritania’s Nouadhibou on Sunday afternoon.

CAF Champions’ League Group Stage Fixtures:

Friday, 24 November

16h00 GMT | Pyramids vs TP Mazembe

19h00 GMT | CR Belouizdad vs Young Africans

Saturday, 25 November

13h00 GMT | Simba AC vs Asec Mimmosas

16h00 GMT | Atletico Petroleos vs Al-Hilal

16h00 GMT | ES Tunis vs ES Sahel

19h00 GMT | Al Ahly vs Medeama

21h00 GMT | Wydad AC vs Jwaneng Galaxy FC

Sunday, 26 November

13h00 GMT | Mamelodi Sundowns vs Nouadhibou

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CAF Champions League Groups:

GROUP A: Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa), Pyramids FC (Egypt), TP Mazembe (DR Congo), FC Nouadhibou (Mauritania)

GROUP B: Wydad AC (Morocco), Simba SC (Tanzania), Asec Mimosas (Cote d’Ivoire), Jwaneng Galaxy (Botswana)

GROUP C: Esperance (Tunisia), Atletico Petroleos (Angola), Al Hilal (Sudan), Etoile du Sahel (Tunisia)

GROUP D: Al Ahly (Egypt), CR Belouizdad (Algeria), Young Africans (Tanzania), Medeama (Ghana)

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