Historic day for SA football as three clubs go into Caf hat

25 April 2017 - 16:52 By Mark Gleeson
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SuperSport United players celebrates with fans during the Nedbank Cup Quarter Final against Kaizer Chiefs at FNB Stadium on April 22, 2017 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
SuperSport United players celebrates with fans during the Nedbank Cup Quarter Final against Kaizer Chiefs at FNB Stadium on April 22, 2017 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Image: Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images

It will be the first time that three South African clubs go into the draw for the group phase of an African club competition at the same time when Mamelodi Sundowns‚ Platinum Stars and SuperSport United wait to hear their fate in Cairo on Wednesday afternoon.

With the expansion of the group phase in both the African Champions League and African Confederations Cup from eight to 16 teams‚ the draw at the Confederation of African Football’s headquarters takes on a much busier air.

  • Manchester derby is 'game of the season', says United's HerreraManchester United's match against Manchester City in the Premier League on Thursday is "the game of the season" and will play a decisive role in both teams' chances of finishing in the top four, midfielder Ander Herrera has said. 

Sundowns are seeking to defend their Champions League title while Stars and SuperSport participate in the Confederations Cup’ group phase for the first time.

Tunisia is the only country with a full house of two representatives in each competition while South Africa‚ Egypt and Sudan remain with three clubs.

  • Brace yourself for an emotional PSL roller coaster ride on Super TuesdayDefending champions Mamelodi Sundowns‚ while focusing on beating Ajax Cape Town‚ will have an eye on the clash between Cape Town City and Kaizer Chiefs in a big night of fixtures in the Absa Premiership on Tuesday. 

Bidvest Wits went out in the both the Champions League and Confederation Cup to Egyptian opposition and will have to try again next year.

Seedings for the draw‚ which takes place at 2pm South African time‚ will be determined later on Tuesday at a meeting of CAF’s club competitions committee but Sundowns are expected to head up one of the groups.

  • Sono confident of leading Cosmos to PSL promotion despite facing difficult oddsJomo Sono continues to pronounce confidently on the promotion chances of his club back to the top-flight even if Cosmos find themselves down in 11th place in the National First Division standings‚ going into Wednesday’s key match against Black Leopards. 

Progress in the continental club competition is something of a poisoned chalice for the South African trio whose season will continue long after the rest of the Premier Soccer League clubs go off on holiday at the end of next month.

The group matches in both competitions start next month and are to be concluded on the second weekend in July‚ leaving the clubs with little chance to rest their players and have proper pre-season preparations ahead of the start of the new South African season in August.

The top two finishers in each of the four groups in both competitions will advance to the quarter-finals‚ which will only be played in September. - TMG Digital/TMG Sport

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