After being drawn to face Orlando Pirates in the CAF Champions League, an MC Alger chief revealed the silver lining of facing the South African club.
The much-anticipated draw was conducted on Thursday evening at beIN Sports' headquarters in Doha, Qatar, where Pirates were among the four unseeded teams awaiting their fate.
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Their potential opponents included local rivals Mamelodi Sundowns, Egyptian heavyweights Pyramids, and MC Alger.
With the Buccaneers ultimately being pitted against MC Alger, club president Hadj Redjem Mohamed admitted that while Pirates are a formidable side, there is a positive to the pairing.
"Orlando Pirates is a strong opponent, but avoiding Arab derbies is a good thing," Mohamed told beIN Sports after the draw per Gomhuria Online.
The MC Alger chief went on to express his ambition for the tournament, revealing his ultimate goal for the competition.
"We want to go far in this tournament and hope to face Al Ahly in the final match," he added.
Elsewhere in the draw, defending champions Al Ahly were paired with Sudanese outfit Al Hilal, setting up another intriguing knockout clash.
The other Egyptian outfit, Pyramids FC, will take on Moroccan outfit AS FAR Rabat, while Mamelodi Sundowns will take on Elias Mokwana's Esperance Sportive de Tunis.
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The first leg matches of the quarter-final will take place next month, 01 April.