Orlando Pirates have been drawn in the same CAF Champions League group stage pool as Egyptian giants Al Ahly.
The all-important draw took place in Cairo on Monday afternoon.
Rounding out the four-team Group C are Algerian club CR Belouizdad and Ivorian team Stade d’Abidjan.
It will of course mean Orlando Pirates will come face-to-face – both home and away – with Bafana Bafana and Al Ahly star forward, Percy Tau.
Orlando Pirates and Al Ahly last met in the CAF Champions League in the 2013 edition when they were drawn in Group A.
The Buccaneers memorably won the away leg 3-0, and the teams drew 0-0 in Soweto.
However, in the two-leg final it was Al Ahly who walked away with the title thanks to a 3-1 aggregate after the first leg in South Africa ended 1-1, before Al Ahly won 2-0 in Egypt.
Mamelodi Sundowns to face two Moroccan teams
Meanwhile, South Africa’s second team in the CAF Champions League group stage, Mamelodi Sundowns, were drawn in Group B.
They will battle two Moroccan teams, Raja Casablanca and FAR Rabat, as well as Maniema Union from Congo, in their bid to secure a passage to the quarter-finals.
Masandwana lost out to Esperance of Tunisia last season in the semi-finals, while Orlando Pirates are in unfamiliar territory having not qualified for CAF Champions League group stages in five years.
CAF Champions League groups:
Group A
TP Mazembe (COD), Young Africans (TAN), Al Hilal (SUD), Mouloudia Alger (ALG)
Group B
Mamelodi Sundowns (RSA), Raja Casablanca (MAR), FAR Rabat (MAR), Maniema Union (COD)
Group C
Al Ahly (EGY, holders), Chabab Belouizdad (ALG), Orlando Pirates (RSA), Stade Abidjan (CIV)
Group D
Esperance (TUN), Pyramids (EGY), Sagrada Esperanca (ANG), Djoliba (MLI)
Will Orlando Pirates find a way out of their group?
Let us know by clicking on the comment tab below this article or by emailing info@thesouthafrican.com or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1
You can also follow @TheSAnews on X and The South African on Facebook for the latest CAF Champions League news.
