Sports Reporter
Egypt Bureau
CAIRO, (CAJ News) - EGYPTIAN giants, Zamalek and champions Al Ahly, have for the second year running been drawn in the same group for the mini-league stage of the Orange CAF Champions League.

During the Tuesday draw in Cairo, Egypt, the pair was drawn in the competition’s ‘Group of Death’ together with another former winner, Orlando Pirates of South Africa and AC Leopards of Congo.

Last year’s losing finalists, Esperance of Tunisian have been drawn in Group B alongside Coton Sport of Cameroon, Sewe Sport of Ivory Coast and Recreativo de Libolo of Angola.

The Egyptian giants will meet in the opening group fixture during the weekend of July 19-21 with Zamalek playing at home.

The two sides from the capital Cairo, rated as the most successful clubs in the continent, have a long-running rivalry.

First contested in 1917, Cairo Derby is one of the fiercest derbies in the world.

Fans of both clubs can be violent when in anger. Numerous fights, injuries and deaths have been reported before matters became more controlled due to Egypt's authoritarian regime.

Yet many fights and riots still occur after derby matches between both sets of fans, leading the government to post even higher numbers of security troops at the Cairo International Stadium during the derby.

Al Ahly have won the tournament’s prime club football tournament a record seven times including the last edition. Zamalek closely follow with five titles, the last coming in 2002.

Orange CAF Champions League draw:

Group A
Al Ahly  (Egypt)
AC Leopards (Congo)
Orlando Pirates (South Africa)
Zamalek (Egypt)

Group B
Esperance (Tunisia)
Coton Sport (Cameroon)
Recreativo de Libolo (Angola)
Sewe Sport (Ivory Coast) – CAJ News