Champions League draw sparks intriguing African showdowns

The highly anticipated draw for the revamped 2024-2025 Champions League has revealed a host of compelling matchups, featuring some of Africa’s finest football talents. The new format, which replaces the traditional group stage with a singular, comprehensive pool, promises thrilling contests and fresh challenges for players from across the continent.

In this new edition, 36 teams will compete rather than the usual 32, with each team facing eight different opponents drawn from four seeded pots.

Matches will be played from mid-September to January, with the top eight teams advancing directly to the round of 16.

Teams ranked between 9th and 24th will battle it out in play-offs, while the remaining 12 will face elimination without a parachute into the Europa League.

Among the most anticipated duels is the face-off between Moroccan international Brahim Diaz and Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah.

Diaz’s Real Madrid will lock horns with Salah’s Liverpool, setting the stage for a captivating showdown.

Salah, returning to the Champions League after a year-long absence, will look to reassert himself on Europe’s biggest stage, while Diaz aims to help Real Madrid defend their crown.

An all-Moroccan clash will unfold when Paris Saint-Germain’s Achraf Hakimi takes on Ismael Saibari of PSV Eindhoven.

Both players are set to represent their respective teams in a matchup that promises to highlight their attacking and defensive prowess.

Senegalese prospect Lamine Camara, who made waves during pre-season by stunning Barcelona, will return to face the Spanish giants as his team seeks to make a mark in the tournament.

The young midfielder’s return to the Camp Nou could be one of the standout moments of the campaign, as he looks to build on his reputation as one of Africa’s rising stars.

Elsewhere, Guinea’s new Borussia Dortmund striker Serhou Guirassy will aim to provide the firepower needed to propel his team further in the competition.

Guirassy, who joined Dortmund in mid-July, will be supported by Algerian defender Ramy Bensebaïni as the German side looks to finally secure silverware after falling short last season.

Bayer Leverkusen will also be a team to watch, with a strong African contingent, including Burkinabe centre-back Edmond Tapsoba, Moroccan forward Amine Adli, and Nigerian duo Victor Boniface and Nathan Tella.

After an impressive domestic season, Leverkusen will look to continue their winning ways in Europe.

Togolese midfielder Sadik Fofana, back from a loan spell, and young Moroccan talent Ayman Aourir will add depth to their squad. Aourir, who made his debut last season, will be eager to make an impact.

Algerian stars Ramiz Zerrouki and Anis Hadj Moussa will face an uphill battle with Feyenoord against European powerhouses such as Bayern Munich, Manchester City, and Bayer Leverkusen.

Meanwhile, Malian striker El Bilal Touré, freshly loaned to Stuttgart, will reunite with his former club Atalanta in what promises to be a hard-fought contest.

Adding to the drama, Stuttgart’s Silas Katompa will go head-to-head with fellow Congolese star Meschack Elia of Young Boys in a rare all-Congolese clash, ensuring the spotlight shines bright on the African talent lighting up Europe’s premier competition.

This year’s Champions League is shaping up to be a stage where Africa’s brightest footballers showcase their skills against the continent’s elite.

Each matchup will not only bring fierce competition but also shine a light on the rising influence of African players in world football’s most prestigious tournament.