COSAFA clubs are back in African club competition this weekend as we reach the halfway point of the Champions League group phase.

South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns entertain ASEC Mimosas from the Ivory Coast in Pretoria on Friday night, a chance to get on the front-foot in a group in which all of the sides are on three points after two games.

Home form is crucial in deciding the quarterfinalists and Sundowns cannot afford to drop points here.

FC Platinum from Zimbabwe will host Guinea side Horoya and should be confident of getting maximum points at the Barbourfields Stadium in Bulawayo.
Platinum have a single point from two games, the same as Horoya, but have more than held their own in Group B.

In the same pool, South African side Orlando Pirates host defending champions Esperance in Soweto on Saturday and can do Platinum a favour by picking up all three points.

The pool stages of the Confederation Cup get under way on Sunday with three COSAFA sides involved.

There will be an all-Zambia clash as ZESCO United welcome Nkana to the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola for their opening game in Group C.

These two have had some titanic battles down the years and this will likely be another top encounter.

Angolan side Petro de Luanda are away in Algeria as they face NA Hussein Dey in their Group D opener.