Here is a closer look at the opponents of the trio who are flying Mzansi’s flag.
Mamelodi Sundowns (Champions League)
St Eloi Lupopo (DF Congo): Lubumbashi’s second club is now overshadowing its more illustrious neighbour TP Mazembe, but this will be its group stage debut after its shock elimination of Orlando Pirates on post-match penalties in the second round last month.
Mouloudia Alger (Algeria): More than 100 years old, the club was an African Champions Cup victor in 1976 and a nine-time winner of the Algerian league, including the last two editions. Former Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena is now in charge of the team, which has imports from Burkina Faso, Guinea, and Ivory Coast in its squad.
Al Hilal (Sudan): The war in Sudan means Al Hilal has had to leave its Khartoum base and play in exile, last season in Mauritania and now as guests in the league in Rwanda. Its latest coach is Romanian Laurențiu Reghecampf, and its squad includes Namibia international Aprocious Petrus, who was sold to them by Cape Town City earlier this year.
Kaizer Chiefs (Confederation Cup)
Al Masry (Egypt): Four places in the Egyptian league last season earned the club from Port Said entry to the Confederation Cup. They have been semi-finalists on three previous occasions in African club competition, but a single Egyptian Cup win in 1998 is their only major trophy success.
Zamalek (Egypt): The Cairo club was founded in 1911 and is one of the continent’s giants, albeit overshadowed in recent decades by their neighbours Al Ahly. Zamalek has had some eccentric presidents and at the weekend fired their Belgian coach Yannick Ferrera after a mediocre start to the season.
Zesco United (Zambia): The club belongs to Zambia’s national power utility and won the first of their nine league championships in 2007. They were runners-up in the last two Zambian seasons and are coached by Emmanuel Siame, who played in the midfield for Free State Stars.
Stellenbosch FC (Confederation Cup)
AS Otoho (Congo): The club from Oyo won the Coupe du Congo to qualify for this season’s Confederation Cup and has six previous league titles under its belt. Their coach Sekou Seck hails from Senegal and has seen them into the group stage of the Confederation Cup for a second time.
Singida Black Stars (Tanzania): Newcomers to the group phase of African club competition, the club has former Mamelodi Sundowns and Platinum Stars coach Miguel Gamondi in charge. Their squad is full of imports with players from eight other African countries.
Chabab Belouizdad (Algeria): The club from the suburbs of Algiers has former TS Galaxy coach Saed Ramovic in charge but this season loaned Khanyisa Mayo to Kaizer Chiefs. In the previous five seasons, Belouizdad has reached the group stage of the Champions League but did not qualify for this edition, rather having to play in the Confederation Cup.
