African giants have been paired against some of the biggest football clubs for the inaugural 32-team FIFA Club World Cup.CAF Champions League winners Al Ahly from Egypt, losing finalists Esperance of Tunisia, Africa Football League champions Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa, and Moroccan heavyweights Wydad AC will all represent the continent in the tournament.The draw, for the tournament scheduled to run between Sunday 15 June to Sunday 13 July next year, was conducted on Thursday in Miami, USA.##NAJAVA_MECA_8547622##Al Ahly, who double up as the record CAF Champions League winners, were placed in Group A alongside Brazil’s SE Palmeiras, FC Porto of Portugal, and Inter Miami CF.Their opening game against Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami, the tournament hosts, promises to be a spectacle at the Hard Rock Stadium, kicking off the competition.Espérance Sportive de Tunis are in Group D and will take on; South American powerhouse CR Flamengo, English giants Chelsea, and Mexico’s Club León.##NAJAVA_MECA_8547646##Sundowns have been pitted against; Brazil’s Fluminense, Germany’s Borussia Dortmund, and South Korea’s Ulsan HD in Group F.Congolese journeyman ends up with wrong club after eyeing a clash with Cristiano RonaldoIn Group G, Wydad will face English champions Manchester City, UAE’s Al Ain, and Italy’s Juventus.The top two teams from each group will progress to the knockout rounds, with the final scheduled at MetLife Stadium in New York on Sunday 13 July.Initially, the tournament brought six to eight teams together but was revamped, including more clubs from each continent.Winning the Champions League and the confederation’s four-year rankings were the criteria used to qualify teams for the tournament.Best FIFA Men’s 11 nominees: Seven African players in the mixOf the 32 teams, Europe has the most teams as UEFA will be represented by 12 teams.South America (CONMEBOL) will have six teams in the tournament, while Asia (AFC) will have four, as will Africa and North, Central America, and the Caribbean (CONCACAF).Finally, Oceania (OFC) will have a representative, with the final slot being dished to the host nation’s domestic champions (Inter Miami).Club World Cup Groups:Group ASE Palmeiras (BRA)FC Porto (POR)Al Ahly FC (EGY)Inter Miami CF (USA)Group BParis Saint-Germain (FRA)Atlético de Madrid (ESP)Botafogo (BRA)Seattle Sounders FC (USA)Group CFC Bayern München (GER)Auckland City FC (NZL)CA Boca Juniors (ARG)SL Benfica (POR)Group DCR Flamengo (BRA)Espérance Sportive de Tunis (TUN)Chelsea FC (ENG)Club León (MEX)Group ECA River Plate (ARG)Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN)CF Monterrey (MEX)FC Internazionale Milano (ITA)Group FFluminense FC (BRA)Borussia Dortmund (GER)Ulsan HD (KOR)Mamelodi Sundowns FC (RSA)Group GManchester City (ENG)Wydad AC (MAR)Al Ain FC (UAE)Juventus FC (ITA)Group HReal Madrid C. F. (ESP)Al Hilal (KSA)CF Pachuca (MEX)FC Salzburg (AUT)
