Junior Khanye's backed Al Ahly to win the Caf Champions League and got Mzansi fans talking: 'Even if Pirates are dancing in the rain he will say they are making dust' - Fan Vote

Shortly after Sundowns secured their passage into the quarterfinals of Africa's premier continental club competition, Junior Khanye took to the iDiski TV YouTube channel to give his verdict.

As usual, the outspoken pundit caused controversy when he said he believed that Sundowns would struggle to make the semi-finals, Pirates also ultimately fall short and the winners would be 12-time champions Al Ahly, despite the Egyptians having been beaten, at home, by the Buccaneers on Saturday.

These comments saw local fans take to social media to have their say on the former Chiefs star's views.

GOAL provided a platform for fans to debate on our Facebook page and set up a voting poll on our WhatsApp channel to find out which clubs our local supporters believe will lift the trophy come the final in May.

On our WhatsApp group vote the outcome was clear: our many Pirates fans believe they will go all the way!

The WhatsApp poll was, perhaps unsurprisingly, overwhelmingly skewed towards Pirates becoming champions with Sundowns a very distant second, telling us more about who GOAL WhatsApp fans support, rather than identifying the actual favourites to win this season's Caf Champions League. On Facebook the opinions were much more varied...

Murendeni Nemutavhani - I have said it before, Junior Khanye even if Pirates is dancing in the rain he will say it's making dust.

Edw In - Some Pirates fans think just because they finished first in the group stages they will win the title😂😂

Skhumbuzo Thwala - We have seen Al Ahly fumbling during group stages but going on to win it. Yes, they can win it again. But any other team can win it too.

Nick Mathivha - Am a Kaizer Chiefs fan I believe Orlando Pirates will win the Caf Champions League believe or not!

Thabo Bucs- Any of the qualified teams are capable of winning the title. However, the presence of the Mighty Buccaneers under Chef José will be a nightmare for any team that we come across. Group stage stats don't lie...

Kings Makhalima - I also stand with Junior. Ahly never shines in group stages of this tournament, they know how to win this thing. I remember last time they needed favour from Sundowns on the last day to deny Hilal a win for them to qualify on second spot, check for me what happened next.

The date for the quarterfinal draw is yet to be revealed by Caf but due to the competition's rules, there is a possibility that Pirates and Sundowns could be drawn to play each other.

The dates for the two-legged quarterfinals are slated for the end of March and the first week in April so there are almost two months of local football until we will see them in continental action again.

Until their fate is known the two South African continental challengers will be focused on their domestic PSL title fight, and the remaining cup competition, the Nedbank Cup, which kicks off this weekend.

Both teams will be keen to avoid the embarrassment of an early exit in the cup.

Sundowns welcome the Free State miner's team Sibanye Golden Stars to Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, January 25.

While Pirates go to the King Zwelithini Stadium in Durban to face PSL opposition in Richards Bay on Sunday, January 26.

Ahead of that, both teams will be in mid-week league action hoping to keep their title ambitions on track ahead of their first league meeting of the season in Pretoria, currently scheduled for Saturday, February 8.