AFRICAN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2017 - GROUP STAGE - 1ST MATCHES - preview

African Champions League 2017
1st Matches
12-14 May 2017

GROUP A

• Etoile du Sahel (Tunisia)
• Al Hilal (Sudan)
• Al Merreikh (Sudan)
• Ferroviario Beira (Mozambique)

Etoile du Sahel vs Ferroviario Beira -:-
Al Hilal vs Al Merreikh -:-

GROUP B

• Zamalek (Egypt)
• USM Alger (Algeria)
• Al Ahly Tripoli (Libya),
• CAPS Utd (Zimbabwe)

Zamalek vs CAPS Utd -:-
USM Alger vs Al Ahly Tripoli -:-

GROUP C

• Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa, holders)
• Esperance (Tunisia)
• AS Vita Club (DR Congo)
• Saint George (Ethiopia)

Mamelodi Sundowns vs Saint George -:-
Esperance vs AS Vita Club -:-

GROUP D

• Al Ahly (Egypt)
• Wydad Casablanca (Morocco)
• Coton Sport (Cameroon)
• Zanaco (Zambia)

Al Ahly vs Zanaco -:-
Wydad Casablanca vs Coton Sport -:-

Titleholders South Africa's Mamelodi Sundowns have been handed a tricky draw for the group stage of this year's African Champions League.

As well as debutants Saint George of Ethiopia in Group C they will face Esperance of Tunisia and DR Congo's AS Vita Club, who have both been continental champions in the past.

Sudan's two biggest clubs have been draw in Group A as Al Hilal and Al Merreikh are joined by Etoile du Sahel of Tunisia and Mozambique's Ferroviario Beira.

The reward for Zimbabwean debutants CAPS United, who beat five-time champions TP Mazembe of DR Congo, is three trips to North Africa.

They are in Group B alongside last year's runners-up Zamalek from Egypt, Algeria's USM Alger and Al Ahly Tripoli of Libya.

The first group games will be played on the weekend of 12-14 May with the top two teams in each group progressing to the quarter-finals.

The first leg of the final is set for the last weekend in October and the second leg being played a week later.