CAF has on Friday 4 October 2024 announced the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League group stage draw procedures for the 2024/25. The 16 teams that qualified will be divided into four pots according to their CAF rankings where they will be picked to be drawn into four groups of four teams each.
The draw will be conducted on Monday, 7 October 2024, in Cairo, Egypt and will commence with the CAF Confederation Cup Group Stage draw at 13h00 Cairo time (13h00 EAT), followed by the CAF Champions League draw at 14h00 Cairo time (14h00 EAT)
Record title-holders and reigning champions, Al Ahly SC along with last season’s runners-up, Espérance Sportive de Tunis have secured their places in the Group Stage.
DR Congo’s AS Maniema Union made history in their first season of participation after eliminating Angola’s Petro de Luanda to secure their place in the group stages
Joining them includes former continental champions and five-time winners, TP Mazembe along with Raja Casablanca, Mamelodi Sundowns, MC Alger, Raja Casablanca, Young Africans, as well as Orlando Pirates, who make a return to the group stages after a five-year absence.
The Group Stages will also feature new sides who will be looking at making a name for themselves at African club football’s grand stage.
Angola will however have representation in the group stages after Sagrada Esperanca secured a historic berth in the Group Stages with a return to the competition since last appearing in 2006.
The sixteen teams include, Al Ahly SC (Egypt), Al Hilal SC (Sudan), AS FAR (Morocco), AS Maniema Union (DR Congo), CR Belouizdad (Algeria), Djoliba AC De Bamako (Mali), GD Sagrada Esperanca (Angola), Espérance Sportive de Tunis (Tunisia), Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa), MC Alger (Algeria), Pyramids FC (Egypt), Orlando Pirates (South Africa), Raja Casablanca (Morocco), Stade d’Abidjan (Cote d’Ivoire), TP Mazembe (DR Congo), Young Africans SC (Tanzania).
Group Stage Draw Format
Pot 4 will feature the lowest-seeded teams, including:
- MC Alger (Algeria)
- AS Maniema Union (DR Congo)
- Djoliba de Bamako (Mali)
- Stade d’Abidjan (Cote d’Ivoire)
The draw for this pot will assign each team to one of the groups as follows:
The first ball drawn will go directly to Group A in position A4.
The second ball drawn will go to Group B in position B4.
The third ball drawn will go to Group C in position C4.
The fourth ball drawn will go to Group D in position D4.
Pot 3 includes:
- Al Hilal (Sudan)
- Orlando Pirates (South Africa)
- GD Sagrada Esperança (Angola)
- AS FAR (Morocco)
The assignment of teams from Pot 3 will proceed similarly:
The first ball drawn will go to Group A in position A3.
The second ball drawn will go to Group B in position B3.
The third ball drawn will go to Group C in position C3.
The fourth ball drawn will go to Group D in position D3.
Pot 2 consists of:
- CRB (Algeria)
- Raja CA (Morocco)
- Young Africans (Tanzania)
- Pyramids FC (Egypt)
The draw procedure for Pot 2 will follow the same format:
The first ball drawn will go to Group A in position A2.
The second ball drawn will go to Group B in position B2.
The third ball drawn will go to Group C in position C2.
The fourth ball drawn will go to Group D in position D2.
Pot 1, featuring the top-seeded teams, includes:
- Al Ahly SC (Egypt)
- Esperance Sportive de Tunis (Tunisia)
- Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)
- TP Mazembe (DR Congo)
The final draw for Pot 1 will assign teams as follows:
- The first ball drawn will go to Group A in position A1.
- The second ball drawn will go to Group B in position B1.
- The third ball drawn will go to Group C in position C1.
- The fourth ball drawn will go to Group D in position D1.
