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By Mutongi Gava

DYNAMOS’ Champions League heroics have been rewarded with a TOUGH mini-league stage draw against Egyptian clubs Zamalek and Al Ahly as well as old foe ASEC Mimosas of Ivory Coast.

The draw was conducted in Cameroon at the weekend by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

The other group features Al Hilal of Sudan, TP Mazembe from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Coton Sport (Cameroon) and Enyimba of Nigeria.

But it is the DeMbare group that easily passes as the “Group of Death” because of its composition.

Al Ahly are the most decorated African club after winning the African Champions League five times while their compatriots Zamalek also have a rich football history.

ASEC Mimosas were Dynamos’ opponents in the 1998 Champions League final. The Ivorian champions went on to beat the Harare giants 4-2 on goal aggregate.

The two teams drew 0-0 in Harare before DeMbare were hammered 4-2 in the return leg in Abidjan.

Dynamos qualified into the mini-league after ousting former holders Etoile Sportive du Sahel on a 2-0 goal aggregate. David Mandigora’s men beat the Tunisians 1-0 at
home before squeezing the same score-line away in Tunisia.

Veteran midfielder Desmond Maringwa, the only survivor from the team that fell at the last hurdle against the ASEC in 1998, said having beaten the champions, they should believe they can go all the way.

He said: “Admittedly it is difficult group because the teams are all top class. But we are also big boys and the fact that we beat former champions Etoile speaks volume of our pedigree. We have played ASEC before and we know their style of play.”

The league phase starts in July with the top two finishers in the groups advancing to October's semi-finals. The final is played over two legs at the end of October and in November.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE MINI-LEAGUE DRAW:

Group A
Al Ahly (EGY)
Zamalek (EGY)
Dynamos (ZIM)
Asec Mimosas (CIV)

Group B
Coton Sport (Cameroon)
TP Mazembe (DRC)
Enyimba (Nigeria)
Al Hilal (Sudan)
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