Monday’s draw delivered a delicious pairing with Sundowns also up against familiar foes Al Hilal of Sudan plus the Congolese conquerors of Orlando Pirates.
St Eloi Lupopo from Lubumbashi, who eliminated Pirates in the second round on post-match penalties just over a week ago, will return to South Africa to face Sundowns in Group C.
Lupopo are competing in the group phase for the first time after their shock defeat of the Buccaneers, but Al Hilal will be a known adversary as they have been paired in the same group with Sundowns for the fourth time in the last six editions.
Al Hilal will not be able to host their home games in war-torn Sudan but have moved to Rwanda where they are being allowed to compete in the local league this season.
But it will be the clash with Mokwena, who took over at MC Alger in August, that will be the most intriguing.
Mokwena was unceremoniously sacked by Sundowns despite winning the championship in 2024 and almost finishing the league season unbeaten.
Champions League holders Pyramids were drawn in Group A alongside Renaissance Berkane of Morocco, who won the Confederation Cup last season. Pyramids beat Berkane 1-0 in the African Super Cup in Egypt last month.
Recordholders Al Ahly were paired with JS Kabylie of Algeria and Royal Armed Forces from Morocco, plus Young Africans of Tanzania.
The other Dar-es-Salaam club, Simba, who have former Sundowns players Rushine de Reuck and Neo Meame in their squad, are in Group D with top seeds Esperance of Tunisia.
The top two finishers in each of the four groups advance to the quarter-finals in March.
The group phase starts on the weekend of November 21-22 and will continue through to mid-February.
Meanwhile, Kaizer Chiefs were drawn with Egyptian giants Zamalek in the CAF Confederation Cup group phase but avoided being paired in the same group with Stellenbosch FC.
Chiefs will also take on Al Masry from Egypt and Zambia’s Zesco United in a tough Group D.
Stellenbosch, who were semi-finalists in the competition last season, will be up against top-seeded Chabab Belouizdad of Algeria in Group C as well as AS Otoho from Congo and Tanzanian newcomers Singida Black Stars.
Chiefs’ clash with Zamalek will be the first between the two giants since they met in the old-style African Champions Cup in 1993, which was the first year that South African teams participated in continental club competition.
Chiefs won the first leg in Johannesburg 2-1 but lost 1-0 away in the return match to go out on the away goals rule in the third round of the competition.
Chiefs have also met other Egyptian opposition in Ismalia, who they eliminated on their way to winning the 2001 African Cup Winners’ Cup, and Al Ahly, who they lost to in the 2021 Champions League final.
Chiefs have also played previously against Zesco United in the 2018-19 Confederation Cup where the Zambian club beat them both home and away for a 5-2 aggregate triumph.
Stellenbosch will be up against Belouizdad and their coach Saed Ramovic, who when he was in charge of TS Galaxy was never able to post a win over the Winelands club, including losing the Carling Knockout final two seasons ago.
AS Otoho from Congo lost to Cape Town City in the Champions League three seasons ago.
The top two finishers in each of the four groups advance to the quarter-finals in March.
The Confederation Cup group phase starts on Sunday, 23 November, and will continue through to mid-February.
Champions League draw
Group A: Power Dynamos (Zambia), Pyramids (Egypt), Renaissance Berkane (Morocco), Rivers United (Nigeria)
Group B: Al Ahly (Egypt), JS Kabylie (Algeria), Royal Armed Forces (Morocco), Young Africans (Tanzania)
Group C: Al Hilal (Sudan), Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa), Mouloudia Alger (Algeria), St Eloi Lupopo (DR Congo)
Group D: Esperance (Tunisia), Petro Atletico (Angola), Simba (Tanzania), Stade Malien (Mali)
Confederation Cup draw
Group A: USM Alger (Algeria), Djoliba (Mali), Olympique Safi (Morocco), San Pedro (Ivory Coast)
Group B: Azam (Tanzania), Maniema Union (DR Congo), Nairobi United (Kenya), Wydad Casablanca (Morocco)
Group C: Chabab Belouizdad (Algeria), AS Otoho (Congo), Singida Black Stars (Tanzania), Stellenbosch (South Africa)
Group D: Al Masry (Egypt), Kaizer Chiefs (South Africa), Zamalek (Egypt), Zesco United (Zambia)