Football fans across Africa are gearing up for the 2025/26 CAF Champions League Group Stage Draw, set to take place on Sunday, November 3, at the SuperSport Studios in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Sixteen clubs have secured their spots in the next phase of Africa’s most prestigious club competition, promising another season of fierce rivalries, drama, and high-quality football.
When and Where Is the Draw?
The official CAF Champions League Group Stage Draw will be held on Monday, November 3, 2025, in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The event will be hosted at the SuperSport Studios and broadcast live across the continent on CAF’s media platforms and partner stations.
Image Credit: CAF/X
Who Has Qualified?
The 16 qualified clubs have been grouped into four pots based on their CAF rankings and recent performances.
Pot 1: Al Ahly (Egypt), Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa), ES Tunis (Tunisia), RS Berkane (Morocco)
Pot 2: Simba SC (Tanzania), Pyramids FC (Egypt), Al Hilal (Sudan), Yanga SC (Tanzania)
Pot 3: Petro Luanda (Angola), AS FAR (Morocco), MC Alger (Algeria), Rivers United (Nigeria)
Pot 4: JS Kabylie (Algeria), Stade Malien (Mali), St Éloi Lupopo (DR Congo), Power Dynamos (Zambia)
Each group will feature one team from each pot, ensuring a balanced and competitive draw.
Four Nations Lead CAF’s Inter-Club Representation
This season underscores the dominance of four African footballing nations; Morocco, Algeria, Tanzania, and Egypt each boasting four clubs across the CAF Inter-Club competitions.
Morocco: Wydad AC, Olympique Safi, AS FAR, RS Berkane
Algeria: MC Alger, CR Belouizdad, USM Alger, JS Kabylie
Tanzania: Simba SC, Yanga SC, Azam FC, Singida Black Stars
Egypt: Al Ahly, Pyramids FC, Zamalek SC, Al Masry
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This balance highlights North and East Africa’s growing supremacy on the continent, both in the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup.
The Big Names to Watch
Defending champions Al Ahly headline Pot 1 alongside South African powerhouse Mamelodi Sundowns, Tunisia’s ES Tunis, and Morocco’s RS Berkane, who step up after back-to-back CAF Confederation Cup triumphs.
Pyramids won thier first ever CAF Champions League after a 2-1 win over Mamelodi Sundowns. Photo Credit: CAF/X
Esperance reaffirmed their pedigree with a commanding 4–0 win over Rahimo FC, while AS FAR Rabat sealed a third straight group-stage appearance after dismantling Horoya AC 4–1 on aggregate.
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Algeria’s MC Alger hope to rekindle memories of their 1976 Champions Cup victory, while Angola’s Petro de Luanda remain dark horses after impressing in the qualifiers.
Underdogs with Big Dreams
Teams like Rivers United (Nigeria), St Éloi Lupopo (DR Congo), and Power Dynamos (Zambia) enter the group stage eager to cause upsets. Lupopo’s dramatic penalty shootout win over Orlando Pirates after a 3–3 tie has already made headlines.
Finidi George alongside his Assistant at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium. Photo Credit: Rivers United/X
Meanwhile, Sudan’s Al Hilal arrive in fine form after a comfortable 4–1 aggregate victory over Kenya Police, while Stade Malien carry West Africa’s banner with pride.
What Happens Next?
The 16 teams will be drawn into four groups of four, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the quarter-finals. The group-stage matches will kick off between 21 and 22 November 2025, while the two-legged final is scheduled for 16 and 23 May 2026.
