Stacked 2025 CAF champions League quarter-final draw unveils mouthwatering encounters
Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns have landed tricky CAF Champions League quarter-final draws after getting North African opponents.
Pirates have been paired with Algerian giants MC Alger in the quarter-final draw conducted in Doha, Qatar on Thursday while Sundowns will face Tunisian giants Esperance, home to Bafana Bafana star Elias Mokwana.
It is a tricky draw for both teams with Pirates taking on the 1976 winners while Sundowns will face an Esperance team that have won the competition four times and lost last season’s final to Egyptian giants Al Ahly.
Pirates finished top of their group when they went unbeaten, ahead of Al Ahly, to make it to the quarter-final for the first time since 2013.
Jose Riveiro’s team showed great character and quality to ensure they were not undone by any of their opponents, who also included Stade d’Abidjan of Ivory Coast and CR Belouizdad of Algeria.
The 1995 champions are looking for their second star this season and have not looked like a side that had not made it to the group stage since 2019 with their talented squad putting up a brave display so far.
Meanwhile, Sundowns, who have reached the semi-final in each of the last two seasons, are under great pressure to go one better this term.
This is one of the reasons coach Manqoba Mngqithi was sacked, with Portuguese Miguel Cardoso installed, and it is also believed to be why Rulani Mokwena’s was forced out of the club after last season.
Cardoso therefore has to deliver the trophy which Sundowns last won in 2016 but faces a tough task against his former employers Esperance.
Sundowns have backed their coach with more signings again in the midseason transfer window with an eye on the Champions League knockout round after a less than impressive group stage campaign when they finished second.
Pirates will play the first leg away while Sundowns will host the first leg, scheduled between April 1 and 8, with the Buccaneers taking on the winner between Pyramids and AS FAR in the semi-final, if they make it through, while the Brazilians will tackle either holders Al Ahly or Al-Hilal of Sudan in the last four.
