Moroccan side Renaissance Berkane have been named among the top seeds for the CAF Champions League group-stage draw set for Monday, despite it being their first-ever appearance in Africa’s premier club competition.
Seedings for the draw are determined based on club performances in both the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup over the past five seasons.
Although Berkane have not previously competed in the Champions League, their consistent success in the Confederation Cup—reaching three finals and winning two titles—secured their place among the top seeds.
Nicknamed “The Orange Boys,” Berkane hail from Morocco’s northeastern citrus-growing region. Over the past five seasons, they accumulated 52 CAF ranking points, earning the final spot in Pot 1 alongside record 12-time Champions League winners Al Ahly (Egypt), Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa), and Espérance de Tunis (Tunisia).
Defending champions Pyramids FC of Egypt, who stunned Sundowns 3–2 on aggregate to claim their maiden title last season, will be seeded in Pot 2.
The draw, to be conducted in a television studio in Johannesburg, will also feature three other former champions — Mouloudia Alger and JS Kabylie of Algeria, and FAR Rabat of Morocco.
Notably, past winners ASEC Mimosas and Stade Abidjan (Ivory Coast) as well as Orlando Pirates (South Africa) failed to advance beyond the qualifying rounds this season.
Apart from Berkane, four other clubs — Saint-Éloi Lupopo (DR Congo), Power Dynamos (Zambia), Rivers United (Nigeria), and Stade Malien (Mali) — have reached the Champions League group stage for the first time.
CAF Champions League Seedings
Pot 1: Al Ahly (EGY), Mamelodi Sundowns (RSA), Espérance (TUN), Renaissance Berkane (MAR)
Pot 2: Simba (TAN), Young Africans (TAN), Pyramids (EGY, holders), Al Hilal (SUD)
Pot 3: Petro Luanda (ANG), FAR Rabat (MAR), Mouloudia Alger (ALG), Rivers United (NGR)
Pot 4: JS Kabylie (ALG), Stade Malien (MLI), Saint-Éloi Lupopo (COD), Power Dynamos (ZAM)
CAF Confederation Cup Seedings
Pot 1: Zamalek (EGY), Wydad Casablanca (MAR), Chabab Belouizdad (ALG), USM Alger (ALG)
Pot 2: Al Masry (EGY), Stellenbosch (RSA), Djoliba (MLI), Maniema Union (COD)
Pot 3: Kaizer Chiefs (RSA), Otoho (CGO)
Pot 4: AZAM (TAN), Singida Black Stars (TAN), ZESCO United (ZAM), San Pedro (CIV), Olympique Safi (MAR), Nairobi United (KEN)
Source: modernghana
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