Rollers, Orapa to know CAF opponents today

Kabelo Boranabi | Wednesday December 21, 2016 22:21

 

Rollers qualified for the CAF Champions League by virtue of being the league champions while Orapa United will take part in the CAF Confederations Cup after winning the Mascom Top 8. Both teams are unseeded and will have to take part in the first rounds of the competitions.

For Rollers, they will return to the regional club competition after taking part in 2015 when they were knocked out by Kaizer Chiefs in the preliminary round with a 3-1 aggregate score. Popa have competed in more CAF competitions than any other local team. On the other hand, the Ostriches will make their debut in CAF competitions after four years of its establishment. The club has established themselves as one of the biggest clubs in the country since gaining promotion three seasons ago. They won a cup competition and finished third in the league last season.

Holders Mamelodi Sundowns will look to defend their title in the next year’s edition. However, only Al Ahly of Egypt, TP Mazembe from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Enyimba of Nigeria have staged successful defences since the 1964 launch of the Champions League. Ahly (2005-2006 and 2012-2013) and Mazembe (1967-1968 and 2009-2010) twice won back to back titles. Enyimba, the only Nigerian outfit to conquer the continent in the premier club competition, triumphed in 2003 and 2004. A further eight defending champions reached successive finals, but had to settle for runners-up prizes.

Record eight-time title-holders Ahly, fellow Egyptian side Zamalek and Esperance and Etoile Sahel of Tunisia are among the teams who will challenge Sundowns, the second African champions from South Africa after Orlando Pirates. While in the CAF club second tier the Confederations cup, champions league semi finalists Zanaco FC and Super Sport United of South Africa are the early favourites from the COSAFA region. The first rounds of the two competitions will be played between February and March 2017.