The draw for the 2025/2026 CAF Champions League group stage is now finalized. The ceremony, held Monday in Johannesburg, confirmed a highly competitive field for the season ahead.
This year’s group stage is anticipated to be one of the most compelling in history, featuring the current trophy holders and seven former African champions.
Group A: A Continental Blockbuster
Group A immediately captured attention due to a highly anticipated rivalry. Pyramids FC of Egypt, who holds the title of reigning champions, will clash again with the Moroccan powerhouse RS Berkane.
RS Berkane won last season’s CAF Confederation Cup. This pairing is a rematch of their recent CAF Super Cup final, which Pyramids FC won by a 1-0 margin.
Nigeria’s Rivers United and Zambia’s Power Dynamos also landed in this pool. This grouping is predicted to be intensely competitive, rich with history, talent, and continental ambition.
Continental Heavyweights Divided
The remaining formidable teams were split into three equally fascinating pools:
- Group B: This group is anchored by the record-setting 12-time winners, Al Ahly of Egypt. Their rivals include Tanzania’s Young Africans, Moroccan champions AS FAR, and two-time African champions JS Kabylie (Algeria). History and rivalry saturate this pool.
- Group C: This pool features perennial title contenders Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa. They face strong rivals: Sudan’s Al Hilal, Algeria’s MC Alger, and DR Congo’s St Éloi Lupopo. All these clubs are known for their rich history and dedicated fan bases.
- Group D: Four-time winners Espérance de Tunis headline this final section. They are joined by Simba SC (Tanzania), Petro de Luanda (Angola), and Stade Malien (Mali). This guarantees another set of high-stakes duels across the continent.
Tournament Calendar and Financial Rewards
The Group Stage competition is set to begin on the weekend of November 21 to November 23. Two matchdays will be completed before the competition observes a break for the CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025.
The tournament will then recommence on the weekend of January 23 to January 25, 2026. The crucial knockout phase is scheduled to kick off on March 13, 2026.
The rewards for success are substantial. The winners of the 2025/2026 CAF Champions League will be granted $4 million in prize money. The runners-up will earn $2 million.
