Mamelodi Sundowns, the former champions from South Africa, have been drawn against Stade Malien, a surprising participant in the quarter-finals of the CAF Champions League. The draw took place in Cairo, revealing that defending champions Pyramids of Egypt will face FAR Rabat of Morocco, while the record 12-time champions Al Ahly will renew their rivalry with Esperance of Tunisia. Another interesting matchup features debutants Renaissance Berkane of Morocco against Al Hilal from Sudan, who are notably competing in this prestigious tournament for the 39th time.

Stade Malien's entry into the knockout stages is particularly remarkable, as the team finally broke through to the group stage after 19 attempts, ultimately finishing at the top of their group which included four-time champions Esperance, who were considered the favorites to advance. In contrast, Sundowns endured a challenging group stage without any victories until a turnaround that saw them secure their advancement thanks to a notable performance from Colombian player Br, who delivered a match-winning brace.

The quarter-finals are set to take place in March, followed by the semi-finals in April and the final in May, marking a significant moment in African club football where favorites and underdogs alike will compete for glory. The tournament continues to showcase the rising competitive spirit in African football, with unexpected teams making significant strides in their performances.