Pirates to face Steve Barker in Champions League

Orlando Pirates will be up against Simba of Tanzania, the club coached by former Stellenbosch coach Steve Barker, in the African Champions League group phase after they were placed in Group D at Wednesday’s draw.

The Buccaneers, who were in the third tier of seeds for, will also take on Morocco’s Renaissance Berkane and newcomers Colombe Sportive (Cameroon) in Group C.

Pirates lost on post-match penalties to Berkane in the African Confederation Cup final in Uyo in 2022 and edged past Simba in the quarterfinals on penalties on route to the deciding game.

Barker has qualified Simba for the Champions League on the back of a hot streak of form which sees them five points clear at the top of the table in Tanzania.

Berkane were semifinalists in last season’s Champions League in their debut appearance in the tournament.

Colombe Sportive have won the last two Cameroonian league titles but this is their debut in the group phase.

Their route to the group stage included a penalty shootout victory over Mali's Stade Malien in the first round, followed by a convincing 3-0 aggregate success against Senegal's Teungueth.

THE DRAW

Group A: Esperance (Tunisia), Petro Atletico (Angola), FC Nouadhibou (Mauritania), Wiliete (Angola)

Group B: Zamalek (Egypt), Young Africans (Tanzania), Mouloudia Alger (Algeria), Club Africain (Tunisia)

Group C: Renaissance Berkane (Morocco), Simba (Tanzania), Orlando Pirates (South Africa), Colombe Sportive (Cameroon)

Group D: Pyramids (Egypt), Al Hilal (Sudan), Horoya (Guinea), Maghreb Fes (Morocco)

The six rounds of group matches will be played between late November and the end of January. The top two teams in each group advances to the quarterfinals in February.