By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Mamelodi Sundowns will play against their former coach Rulani Mokwena, who is currently with Algerian outfit MC Alger in a tough group in the African Champions League.
This will be the first time the 38-year-old will be playing against Sundowns following his exit from the South African side two seasons ago.
It will also renew the rivalry between coach Miguel Cardoso and Mokwena who met in the 2023/24 semi-final between Esperance and the Brazilians.
Sundowns will also come up against the Democratic Republic of Congo side St Eloi Lupopo, who knocked out Orlando Pirates in the preliminary round.
Champions League holders Pyramids were drawn in Group A alongside Renaissance Berkane of Morocco, who won the Confederation Cup last season.
Recordholders Al Ahly were paired with JS Kabylie of Algeria and Royal Armed Forces from Morocco, plus Young Africans of Tanzania. The other Dar-es-Salaam club, Simba, are in Group D with top seeds Esperance of Tunisia.
The top two finishers in each of the four groups advance to the quarterfinals in March.
The group phase starts on the weekend of 21-22 November and will continue through to mid-February.
The draw:
Group A: Power Dynamos (Zambia), Pyramids (Egypt), Renaissance Berkane (Morocco), Rivers United (Nigeria)
Group B: Al Ahly (Egypt), JS Kabylie (Algeria), Royal Armed Forces (Morocco), Young Africans (Tanzania)
Group C: Al Hilal (Sudan), Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa), Mouloudia Alger (Algeria), St Eloi Lupopo (DR Congo)
Group D: Esperance (Tunisia), Petro Atletico (Angola), Simba (Tanzania), Stade Malien (Mali).