South Africa would come to a standstill if Orlando Pirates were to meet Mamelodi Sundowns in this year’s CAF Champions League final.

With this in mind, Pirates mentor Jose Riveiro has shared his thoughts ahead of the quarter-finals draw on Thursday, 20 February, as the Buccaneers and Brazilians will be in the hat.

Pirates, who finished top of Group C, have three possible opponents in the quarter-finals: Sundowns, Algerian side MC Alger, and Pyramids from Egypt.

Meanwhile, Sundowns settled for second spot in Group B, with their possible opponents in the last eight being Pirates, Sudan’s Al Hilal, and the Tunisians, Espérance.

However, Riveiro has suggested that facing Sundowns in the final, rather than the quarter-finals, would be a great spectacle.

“If it’s Sundowns (in the quarter-finals), I think it’s going to be a big, big clash for the country,” commented Riveiro over the weekend.

“It’s going to attract a lot of attention one more time. But hopefully, it’s not this time; hopefully, it’s a little bit later in the competition,” he stated.

“It could actually be better for all of us if that game happens at the end (final).”

Pirates became the first South African club to win the CAF Champions League in 1995, and Sundowns achieved the feat in 2016.

However, South African teams have never met in a Champions League final.

The tournament has over the years been dominated by the North Africans, with Al Ahly of Egypt winning it a record 12 times.

There are six North African quarter-finalists, including Al Ahly.