South African representatives, the teams Orlando Pirates and Durban City, have been assigned challenging fixtures in the group stage of CAF tournaments following the draw held in Egypt on Wednesday.
In the CAF Champions League, the Pirates team landed in a difficult group alongside Moroccan giants RS Berkane, Tanzanian Simba SC led by South African coach Steve Barker, and Cameroonian side Colombe Sportive. Although the Buccaneers players are familiar with continental conditions, this draw presents significant risks.
RS Berkane are experienced participants known for achieving results, and a trip to Dar es Salaam to face Simba at the packed Benjamin Mkapa stadium is never easy. The addition of the unpredictable Colombe Sportive means that the Sea Robbers must be ready from day one to qualify for the playoffs.
Pirates will meet the Cameroonians for the first time, but they have a substantial recent history with the other two opponents. In 2022, they met Simba twice: in both instances, each team won at home 1-0, after which Pirates advanced to the final, winning on penalties 4-3. In the same 2022 Confederation Cup season, Bucs reached the final against Berkane but lost on penalties 5-4 after the match ended 1-1.
Meanwhile, Durban City found themselves in a real proving ground in Group C of the CAF Confederation Cup. The coastal team faced Moroccan side AS FAR, Tanzanian Azam FC, and Libyan team Al Ahli Tripoli.
This is a very serious challenge for Durban City, especially considering it is their first appearance on the continental stage. Trips to hostile territories in North and East Africa are easily considered one of the toughest tasks in football, particularly for South African teams, who often face harsh reception both on and off the pitch.