Champions League (C1) draw: Hakimi, Haller and Bennacer in the group of death

Despite the absence of the last four African Ballon d'Or winners, Sadio Mané, Mohamed Salah, Riyad Mahrez and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, European pitches will once again see African stars going head to head in the group stage this year.

The draw, made on Thursday afternoon, has for example put PSG's Achraf Hakimi and Dortmund's Sébastien Haller in the same group, Group F. A winner of the competition with Real Madrid, where he was only a bit-part player, the Moroccan full-back made his name at Dortmund on loan. He will therefore face some of his former team-mates at BVB. He should also come up against Ivorian striker Sébastien Haller, who boasts one of the best records in the Champions League (11 goals in 10 games).

Victor Osimhen against Real Madrid

These two African stars are in what can be called the group of death. Besides PSG and Dortmund, there is Ismaël Bennacer's AC Milan, who reached the semi-finals last season. And there is also Newcastle, back in the competition after more than 20 years away. Although their season has started a little awkwardly, with defeats at City (1-0) and against Liverpool (2-1), the Magpies are full of energy and capable of unsettling any side.

Group B will also feature a fine array of top African players, with Youssef En-Nesyri's Sevilla, Arsenal with Thomas Partey, Ibrahim Sangaré's PSV and Lens (Abdoul Samed, Masadio Haidara, Morgan Guilavogui).

Victor Osimhen, who could follow Sadio Mané onto the list of African Ballon d'Or winners, will face the competition's record champions, Real Madrid. Drawn in Group C, his side Napoli will also take on Benfica and Union Berlin.

The 2023/24 group stage draw ✅#UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/kCTj9JfBFM

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) August 31, 2023