The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially unveiled the group stage draw for the 2025/26 CAF Champions League — and it’s shaping up to be one of the toughest in recent years.
The draw, held on Monday at the SuperSport Studios in Johannesburg, produced a series of mouth-watering matchups, pitting former champions, continental heavyweights, and emerging forces against each other.
Reigning champions Pyramids FC of Egypt will face RS Berkane of Morocco, Rivers United of Nigeria, and Power Dynamos of Zambia in Group A — a section many fans have already dubbed the “Group of Death.”
Group B features record 12-time winners Al Ahly of Egypt, who will battle Young Africans (Tanzania), AS FAR (Morocco), and JS Kabylie (Algeria) in what promises to be a thrilling pool filled with pedigree and rivalry.
Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa headline Group C, joined by Al Hilal (Sudan), MC Alger (Algeria), and St Éloi Lupopo (DR Congo). All four sides boast rich continental histories and passionate followings.
In Group D, four-time winners Espérance de Tunis (Tunisia) will lock horns with Simba SC (Tanzania), Petro de Luanda (Angola), and Stade Malien (Mali), rounding off what looks set to be a highly competitive group stage.
CAF confirmed that the group stage will kick off on the weekend of November 21–23, with two rounds of matches before the AFCON 2025 begins in Morocco. The competition will then pause for the tournament and resume between January 23–25, 2026.
The knockout rounds are scheduled to start on March 13, 2026, with the overall winners set to pocket $4 million, while runners-up will earn $2 million.
Full Group Breakdown
Group A: RS Berkane (Morocco), Pyramids FC (Egypt), Rivers United (Nigeria), Power Dynamos (Zambia)
Group B: Al Ahly (Egypt), Young Africans (Tanzania), AS FAR (Morocco), JS Kabylie (Algeria)
Group C: Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa), Al Hilal (Sudan), MC Alger (Algeria), St Éloi Lupopo (DR Congo)
Group D: Espérance de Tunis (Tunisia), Simba SC (Tanzania), Petro de Luanda (Angola), Stade Malien (Mali)
Matchday Schedule
MD1: Nov. 21–23
MD2: Nov. 28–30
MD3: Jan. 23–25
MD4: Jan. 30–Feb. 1
MD5: Feb. 6–8
MD6: Feb. 13–15
