The cards have been dealt, and they’re anything but gentle. The 2025–26 CAF Champions League group stage draw was revealed behind the cameras in Johannesburg, and if you thought you knew what to expect, think again.
Here’s the long and short of it: With a record 62 clubs registering for this season, the stakes have never been higher. (cafonline.com) The pathway to continental glory has widened — and so has the potential for upset.
How We Got Here
The draw for the group stage took place on 3 November 2025 in Johannesburg. The group stage kicks off on 21 November 2025. (CAF Online) The winner of this phase takes home a cool USD 4 million, while the runner-up settles for USD 2 million. Yes — they’re playing for serious money.
Group by Group Breakdown (The Good, The Bad, The Dangerous)
Group A – Expect Fireworks
- RS Berkane (Morocco)
- Pyramids FC (Egypt)
- Rivers United (Nigeria)
- Power Dynamos (Zambia)
Headline match: Pyramids vs Berkane — the reigning Champions League winners meeting the recent Confederation Cup champions (Berkane) in a group that also features Rivers United and Power Dynamos. You can already smell the tension.
Group B
- Al Ahly (Egypt)
- Young Africans (Tanzania)
- AS FAR (Morocco)
- JS Kabylie (Algeria)
Al Ahly anchors this group — record 12-time winners. But Young Africans have ambition, and AS FAR and JS Kabylie bring their own continental pedigree. No walk in the park.
Group C
- Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)
- Al Hilal (Sudan)
- MC Alger (Algeria)
- St Éloi Lupopo (DR Congo)
If you like balanced groups, this is it. Sundowns have been favourites for a while; Al Hilal and MC Alger know how to win away in hostile atmospheres; Lupopo bring the DR Congo fire.
Group D
- Espérance Sportive de Tunis (Tunisia)
- Simba SC (Tanzania)
- Petro de Luanda (Angola)
- Stade Malien (Mali)
Another heavyweight block. Espérance are veterans; Simba and Petro de Luanda are rising forces; Stade Malien — well, they’ve never intimidated anyone, but they’re dangerous when overlooked.
What This Draw Really Means
- Big name African clubs are back in business. Al Ahly, Espérance, Mamelodi Sundowns, and Pyramids make this draw more about legacy than “we’re just happy to be here.”
- It’s not just the top seeds anymore. With 62 clubs entering, the margin for error shrinks. The interview trousers don’t hide nearly as well.
- Revenue matters. The prize money means this isn’t charity; it’s business. Performance here impacts budgets, recruitment — everything.
- Nigerian clubs have real bite. Rivers United in Group A means Nigerian football has actual skin in the game. If they play right, they could upset heavyweights.
- Beware the away trips. Away games in African club football aren’t friendly tours. Altitude, crowd hostility, travel logistics — all real, all brutal.
Timeline Reminder
- Matchday 1 & 2: 21–22 Nov 2025 and 28–29 Nov 2025
- Matchday 3–6: January to February 2026
- Knockout phase begins: 13 March 2026
Final Takeaway
This draw isn’t just another formality. For clubs like Rivers United, it’s a chance to send a message. For veterans like Al Ahly and Espérance, it’s time to show they’re still the top dogs. And for the rest — the wildcards in here know what they’re doing.
Expect goals, expect chaos, expect legends to be made — or broken. The stage is set, the lights are on.