Can Pirates and Sundowns meet in the CAF Champions League group stage?

After an intense MTN8 final, football fans would love to see Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns meet again in the 2026/27 CAF Champions League.

With both South African giants aiming to qualify for the 16-team group stage, some supporters have questioned whether the two teams could be drawn into the same group.

Unfortunately, Pirates and Sundowns cannot be drawn into the same CAF Champions League group if the competition’s rules prohibit clubs from the same national association from sharing a group.

The draw regulations determine how teams are allocated to the different groups.

The rules are designed to prevent clubs from the same country from meeting in the group stage, ensuring that teams from different national associations are represented across the groups.

Both South African sides are currently competing in the second preliminary round as they seek to secure places in the group stage.

Pirates and Sundowns eyeing group stages

Orlando Pirates faced Namibia’s African Stars in the first leg in Gaborone, securing a 1-0 victory to put themselves in a promising position ahead of the return fixture.

Mamelodi Sundowns, meanwhile, are scheduled to face Angola’s Wiliete SC away from home in their first-leg encounter as they look to take a step closer to qualification.

Should both teams advance to the group stage, they would be placed in separate groups under the applicable draw regulations.

An all-South African showdown between Pirates and Sundowns could still happen later in the competition. If both clubs progress beyond the group stage, they could meet in the knockout rounds, depending on the draw and the tournament’s regulations, or potentially in the final.

For now, both teams must first navigate the preliminary rounds before turning their attention to the possibility of another showdown on the continental stage.