The draw for the group stages of the 2012 CAF Champions League has been made with a number of local derbies in store.

Cairo giants Al Ahly and Zamalek have been pooled together in Group B, a nightmare for Egyptian authorities still reeling from the Port Said Massacre earlier this year.

It is not to say that violence will certainly follow this fixture, but the potential is there and the draw is a headache the authorities can do without in these volatile times in Egypt.

Joining them in a tough Group B are 2009 and 2010 champions TP Mazembe from the DR Congo and debutants Berekum Chelsea of Ghana.

The latter will be considered the underdogs in what is a very difficult pool to predict, but have shown already with their away win at CotonSport in Cameroon in the last round that they are not to be taken lightly.

Group A features Sunshine Stars of Nigeria, ASO Chlef from Algeria, and the Tunisian duo of defending champions Esperance and Etoile du Sahel.

The Tunisians will be expected to advance from the pool given their experience in this competition over the past few seasons.

The pool stages start on the weekend of July 6-8 and run through to September.

Group A
Sunshine Stars (Nigeria)
Esperance (Tunisia)
AS Chlef (Algeria)
Etoile du Sahel (Tunisia)

Group B
Ahly (Egypt)
TP Mazembe (RD Congo)
Berekum Chelsea (Ghana)
Zamalek (Egypt)


http://www.soccerroomtoday.com/nigerian-premiership/sunshine-stars-get-north-african-challenge/