(Reuters) – Holders Al Ahly of Egypt will continue the defence of their African Champions League title with a quarter-final tie against Al Hilal from neighbouring Sudan after the draw conducted in Qatar on Thursday.
The pairing is a boost for Ahly, who were unconvincing in the group phase and finished second in their section, but who have a long history of dominance over Sudanese opposition.
The civil war in Sudan means Al Hilal have moved the club to Mauritania, where they are guest competitors in the local league and will host the second leg of their quarter-final in Nouakchott on either April 8-9.
The draw, featuring six north African clubs and two from South Africa, had Tunisia’s Esperance and South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns paired together in a repeat of last season’s semi-final which Esperance won 2-0 on aggregate.
They were coached in that match by Portuguese Miguel Cardoso, who has since joined Sundowns, the club owned by the family of Confederation of African Football president Patrice Motsepe.
Draw (team mentioned first plays home in the first leg):
Quarter-final (First leg April 1-2, Second leg April 8-9)
QF1 Al Ahly (Egypt) v Al Hilal (Sudan)
QF2 Pyramids (Egypt) v Royal Armed Forces (Morocco)
QF3 Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) v Esperance (Tunisia)
QF4 Mouloudia Alger (Algeria) v Orlando Pirates (South Africa)
Semi-final (First leg April 18-19, Second leg April 25-26)
SF1 QF3 v QF1
SF2 QF4 v QF2
Final (First leg May 24, Second leg June 1)
SF1 v SF 2
(Writing by Mark Gleeson in Cape Town; Editing by xx)
