Sundowns to kick off SA’s continental campaigns

Mamelodi Sundowns will be the first of the South African trio in this season’s group phase of African club competition to get their campaign underway later this month, according to fixtures released by the Confederation of African Football.

Sundowns will host Maniema Union from the Democratic Republic of Congo in their opening Group B match at Loftus Versfeld on Tuesday, 26 November (kick off 6pm), marking a 10th successive season that the South African champions compete in the group competition.

Sundowns also share their group with two Moroccan clubs – Raja Casablanca and Royal Armed Forces.

Orlando Pirates also play their opening Group C match on 26 November but with a later kick off (9pm).

They start away at Chabab Belouizdad of Algeria in Group C. The match will be at the July 5 Stadium in Algiers.

The Buccaneers are back in the group competition for the first time since the 2018-19 season and renew rivalry with Egypt’s Al Ahly, who beat them in the 2013 Champions League final

Stellenbosch, who are through to the group phase of the African Confederation Cup, at the first time of asking, begin their Group B fixtures away at Stade Malien in Bamako on Wednesday, 27 November.

They are due to play Pirates three days later in the Betway Premiership, but that repeat of the recent MTN8 final is likely to be postponed as both teams will be making lengthy journeys back.

Stellenbosch also have former winners Renaissance Berkane of Morocco in their group and Angolan debutants Desportivo Lunda-Sul, who eliminated Sekhukhune United in the previous round.

The fixtures have followed several weeks after the draw was conducted but only the details of first three rounds have been confirmed

Clubs will play three rounds of group matches before the turn of the year and then the following three games in early 2025.

The top two sides in each of the group advance to the quarterfinals in April

All the key matches in the African club competitions will be shown on SuperSport.

MAMELODI SUNDOWNS FIXTURES:

Tuesday, November 26: home v Maniema Union (DR Congo)

Saturday, December 7: away v Royal Armed Forces (Morocco)

Sunday, December 15: home v Raja Casablanca (Morocco)

Friday, January 3 or Saturday January 4: away v Raja Casablanca

Friday, January 10 or Saturday January 11: away v Maniema Union

Friday, January 17 or Saturday January 18: home v Royal Armed Forces

ORLANDO PIRATES FIXTURES

Tuesday, November 26: away v Chabab Belouizdad (Algeria)

Saturday, December 7: home v Al Ahly (Egypt)

Saturday, December 14: away v Stade Abidjan (Ivory Coast)

Friday, January 3 or Saturday January 4: home v Stade Abidjan

Friday, January 10 or Saturday January 11: home v Chabab Belouizdad

Friday, January 17 or Saturday January 18: away v Al Ahly

STELLENBOSCH FIXTURES

Wednesday, November 27: away v Stade Malien (Mali)

Sunday, December 8: home v Renaissance Berkane (Morocco)

Sunday, December 15: away v Desportivo Lunda-Sul (Angola)

Sunday, January 5: home v Desportivo Lunda-Sul

Sunday, January 12: home v Stade Malien

Sunday January 19: away v Renaissance Berkane