Orlando Pirates will be looking for a repeat of their one-sided victory a decade ago as they meet Djabal from the tiny Comoros Islands again in the opening round of the African Champions League.
The Buccaneers, returning to the field for the continent’s top club competition, were drawn on Tuesday against the club from the small Indian Ocean island when the draw for the 2023-24 African Champions League was conducted at the Confederation of African Football headquarters in Cairo.
Pirates thrashed Djabal 9-0 on aggregate in 2013 when they went onto reach the final, losing narrowly to Al Ahly of Egypt.
Pirates were last in Champions League in 2020 when they suffered an embarrassing first round defeat at the hands of Zambian rookies Green Eagles but should breeze through this time.
If they do so, they will have a second round meeting against either Botswana’s Jwaneng Galaxy or Vipers of Uganda, who were in the group phase of the Champions League last season.
Mamelodi Sundowns have again received a bye through the first round and must beat the winner of the first round tie between CS Bendje of Gabon or Bumauru from Burundi, who are both rookies in the continent’s top club competition, if they are to make the group phase next year.
Sundowns have home advantage in the second leg to add to their heightened chances.
SuperSport United, who were runners-up in 2017, were handed a bye into the second round of the African Confederation Cup, were they face either Botswana’s Gaborone United or the Malagasy club Elgeco Plus.
Rookies Sekhukhune United begin their maiden African club competition campaign in the Confederation Cup at home against Young Buffaloes from Eswatini and if they win that will advance to a second round clash against St Eloi Lupopo from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Young Buffaloes have lost previously to both Wits University and Cape Town City in past African club competition clashes against South African opposition.
First round (18-20 Aug., 25-27 Aug.)
Bendel Insurance (Nigeria) v ASO Chlef (Algeria)
FUS Rabat (Morocco) v AS Loto (Benin)
Casa Sport (Senegal) v Etoile Filante (Burkina Faso)
Arta Solar 7 (Dijibouti) v Horseed (Somalia)
Singida Big Stars (Tanzania) v JKU (Zanzibar)
Bahir Dar (Ethiopia) v Azam (Tanzania)
Olympic Beja (Tunisia) v Abo Selim (Libya)
Kakamenga Homeboyz (Kenya) v Al Hilal (Libya)
Sekhukhune United (South Africa) v Young Buffaloes (Eswatini)
Cano Sport (Equatorial Guinea) v Maestro United (Zambia)
Ferroviario Maputo (Mozambique) v Belle Lumiere (Comoros
Gaborone United (Botswana) v Elgeco Plus (Madagascar)
Amicale Douanes (Mauritania) v SOAR (Guinea)
ASCK (Togo) v Amadou Diallo (Ivory Coast)
Milo (Guinea) v Dream FC (Ghana)
AS Douanes (Niger) v Kallon FC (Sierra Leone)
Watanga (Liberia) v Stade Malien (Mali)
Hay Al Arab (Sudan) v Aigle Noir (Burundi)
Haidoub (Sudan) v Al Mereikh Juba (South Sudan)
Academica Lobito (Angola) v La Passe (Seychelles)
* Teams drawn first play the first leg at home
Second round (15-17 Sept., 29-30 Sept., 1 Oct.)
Bendel Insurance or ASO Chlef v Renaisance Berkane (Morocco)
FUS Rabat or AS Loto v USM Alger (Algeria)
Casa Sport or Etoile Filante v Rivers United (Nigeria)
Arta Solar or Horseed v Zamalek (Egypt)
Singida Big Stars or JKU v Future FC (Egypt)
Bahir Dar or Azam v Club Africain (Tunisia)
Olympic Beja or Abo Selim v Kampala Capital City Authority (Uganda)
Kakamenga Homeboyz or Al Hilal v Rayon Sport (Rwanda)
Sekhukhune United or Young Buffaloes v St Eloi Lupopo (DR Congo)
Cano Sport or Maestro United v Diables Noirs (Congo)
Ferroviario Maputo or Belle Lumiere v Sagrada Esperanca (Angola)
Gaborone United or Elgeco Plus v SuperSport United (South Africa)
Amicale Douanes or SOAR v ASCK or Amadou Diallo
Milo or Dream FC v AS Douanes or Kallon FC
Watanga or Stade Malien v Hay Al Arab or Aigle Noir
Haidoub or Al Mereikh Juba v Academica Lobito or La Passe
* Teams drawn first play the first leg at home
