Asavela Mbekile, Gaston Sirino and Rivaldo Coetzee excluded from Sundowns' Caf squad

Mamelodi Sundowns will take on the winner between Rwandan club Rayon Sports and Burundi’s Lydia Ludic Académic in the first round.

The two teams played to a 1-1 draw in the preliminary round first-leg match at the Amahoro National Stadium in Kigali, Rwanda on Saturday.

The return leg will be played on the 21st of the February 2018 in the Burundian capital of Bujumbura.

Thabo Nthethe, whose contract is expiring in June 2018, has been excluded from the Sundowns squad. Rivaldo Coetzee, who has recovered from a long-term injury, is also not part of the squad.

Defender-come-midfielder Asavela Mbekile is expected to leave Sundowns at the end of the current season and Pitso Mosimane has decided not to register the player.

Meanwhile, newly signed Uruguayan Gastón Sirino was also not included in the squad.

Sundowns won the Champions League in 2016 after defeating Egyptian giants Zamalek 3-1 on aggregate in the final.

Sundowns caf squad:

GOALKEEPERS

Brimah Razak, Kennedy Mweene, Denis Onyango.

DEFENDERS

Wayne Arendse, Anele Ngcongca, Siyabonga Zulu, Thapelo Morena, Tebogo Langerman, Motjeka Madisha, Soumahoro Bangaly, Ricardo Nascimento, Siyanda Zwane.

MIDFIELDERS

George Lebese, Themba Zwane, Aubrey Ngoma, Tiyani Mabunda, Hlompho Kekana, Oupa Manyisa.

FORWARDS

Anthony Laffor, Khama Billiat, Thokozani Sekotlong, Jeremy Brockie, Cuthbert Malajila, Sibusiso Vilakazi, Percy Tau.