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Rulani to face old employer Sundowns in Champions League

rugby03 November 2025 14:00| © Mzansi Football
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Rulani Mokwena will be taking on his old club Mamelodi Sundowns after his Mouloudia Alger were paired with the South African champions in a tough group in the African Champions League.

Monday’s draw at the SuperSport studios in Johannesburg delivered a delicious pairing with Sundowns also up against familiar foes Al Hilal of Sudan plus the Congolese conquerors of Orlando Pirates.

St Eloi Lupopo from Lubumbashi, who eliminated Pirates in the second round on post-match penalties just over a week ago, will return to South Africa to face Sundowns in Group C.

Lupopo are competing in the group phase for the first time after their shock defeat of the Buccaneers but Al Hilal will be a known adversary as they have been paired in the same group with Sundowns for the fourth time in the last six editions.

Al Hilal will not be able to host their home games in war-torn Sudan but have moved to Rwanda where they are being allowed to compete in the local league this season.

But it will be the clash with Mokwena, who took over at MC Alger in August, that will be the most intriguing.

Mokwena was unceremoniously sacked by Sundowns despite winning the championship in 2024 and almost finishing the league season unbeaten.

Champions League holders Pyramids were drawn in Group A alongside Renaissance Berkane of Morocco, who won the Confederation Cup last season.

Pyramids beat Berkane 1-0 in the African Super Cup in Egypt last month.

Recordholders Al Ahly were paired with JS Kabylie of Algeria and Royal Armed Forces from Morocco, plus Young Africans of Tanzania.

The other Dar-es-Salaam club, Simba, who have former Sundowns players Rushine de Reuck and Neo Meame in their squad, are in Group D with top seeds Esperance of Tunisia.

The top two finishers in each of the four groups advance to the quarterfinals in March.

The group phase starts on the weekend of 21-22 Novemberand will continue through to mid-February.

The draw:

Group A: Power Dynamos (Zambia), Pyramids (Egypt), Renaissance Berkane (Morocco), Rivers United (Nigeria)

Group B: Al Ahly (Egypt), JS Kabylie (Algeria), Royal Armed Forces (Morocco), Young Africans (Tanzania)

Group C: Al Hilal (Sudan), Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa), Mouloudia Alger (Algeria), St Eloi Lupopo (DR Congo)

Group D: Esperance (Tunisia), Petro Atletico (Angola), Simba (Tanzania), Stade Malien (Mali)

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