KCCA draw North Africa giants Esperance, Ahly in Champions’ league group

Uganda Premier League defending champions Kampala Capital City Authority Football Club will now have the ultimate test of their time after being drawn against some of the continent’s best teams in the Caf champions’ league group stages.

Following their triumph against Ethiopian giants St.George on Saturday, the draws held on Wednesday evening in Cairo saw KCCA FC drawn against Egyptian side Al Ahly and Tunisian giants Esperance in group A.

Al Ahly are the most decorated team on a record eight titles whereas Esperance have won Africa’s most prestigious club tournament two times.

Uganda’s representatives will also play Township Rollers FC from Botswana and also home to former KCCA FC player Derrick Ntege.

Record

The Egyptian giants have the best record among the teams in group A having won the competition eight times the latest being in 2013 whereas they have been runners up three times, the latest being last year when they lost to Wydad Casablanca from Morocco.

Esperance comes second, having won the continent’s most prestigious club tournament twice, the latest being 2011 whereas the Tunisian giants have been runners up for four times, the latest being 2010.

KCCA and Township Rollers have never tested the joy of winning the tournament since its inception.

Despite a tough draw, KCCA FC coach Mike Mutebi is determined to beat the odds to fly high in this year’s Caf Champions League.

Speaking following his win against St.George on Saturday, Mutebi was optimistic this is his time and the team to reach greater heights on the continent as they aim at breaking records.

““We are now among the big clubs and now have a right to rub shoulders with the best and anyone who comes our way,”Mutebi told the post- match press conference at Lugogo.

He warned, ““We shall not go to the group as passengers but we aim at reaching the quarterfinals.”

KCCA FC broke the record becoming the first Ugandan club to reach the group stages of the Caf Champions League having eliminated St. George from Ethiopia.

Wydad Casablanca from Morocco are the defending champions after being Al Ahly last year.

Caf CL Full Draws:

Group A:

Al Ahly (Egypt), Township Rollers (Botswana), KCCA (Uganda), Esperance (Tunisia)

Group B:

TP Mazembe (DR Congo), Mouloudia Club D’Alger (Algeria), Difaa Hassani El Jadidi (Morocco), E.S Setifienne (Algeria)

Group C:

As Togo Port De Lome (Algeria), Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa), Wydad Atletic Club (Morocco), Horoya A.C (Guinea)

Group D:

Zesco United (Zambia), Primeiro De Agosto (Angola), Etoile du Sahel (Tunisia), Mbabane Swallows (Swaziland)