Sundowns drawn against Champions League surprise package

Mamelodi Sundowns will take on Stade Malien of Mali in the African Champions League quarterfinals next month, avoiding holders Pyramids and record winners Al Ahly in the last eight draw conducted on Tuesday.

Sundowns will host the first leg on the weekend of 13-15 March with the return leg in Bamako one week later.

Stade Malien emerged as the surprise package of the Champions League group phase this season, topping their standings and easily advancing to the last eight.

Last season Djoliba became the first team from Mali to qualify for the 16-team group phase since the Champions League format was introduced in 1997 but found the going tough and did not win a match.

Stade Malien had qualified to compete in the Champions League 20 times from 2001 but after 19 failed efforts to get past the preliminary knockout rounds, and into the group stage, finally succeeded this season.

But they did not rest on their laurels, going on to top Group D with an impressive 11-point haul and making sure of their progress in their penultimate game by beating perennial favourites Esperance 1-0 in Bamako.

Sundowns could have also been paired against Pyramids, who beat them in last year’s final, or Al Ahly but avoided yet another clash with the Egyptians.

Instead, Pyramids will be up against Morocco’s Royal Armed Forces, while Al Ahly play against Esperance of Tunisia. The two clubs share the record of having competed in the African Champions League group phase 23 times.

Quarterfinals

Renaissance Berkane (Morocco) v Al Hilal (Sudan)

Esperance (Tunisia) v Al Ahly (Egypt)

Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) v Stade Malien (Mali)

Royal Armed Forces (Morocco) v Pyramids (Egypt)

The team mentioned first plays at home in the first leg.

Semifinals

Esperance or Al Ahly v Mamelodi Sundowns or Stade Malien

Royal Armed Forces or Pyramids v Renaissance Berkane or Al Hilal

The winner of the first tie mentioned plays at home in the first leg on the weekend of April 10-12, with the return leg on the weekend of April 17-19.

The winner of the semifinal tie 1 plays home in the first leg of the final on 15 May, with the return on 24 May.