CAF releases 2025/26 Champions League group stage draw

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has unveiled the group stage draw for the 2025/26 CAF Champions League, with Nigeria’s Rivers United placed in Group A alongside defending champions Pyramids FC of Egypt, Morocco’s RS Berkane, and Zambia’s Power Dynamos.

Record 12-time winners Al Ahly of Egypt headline Group B, which also features Tanzania’s Young Africans, Moroccan champions AS FAR, and Algeria’s JS Kabylie.

In Group C, South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns will take on Sudan’s Al Hilal, Algeria’s MC Alger, and DR Congo’s St Éloi Lupopo. Group D comprises Tunisia’s Espérance Sportive de Tunis, Tanzania’s Simba SC, Angola’s Petro de Luanda, and Mali’s Stade Malien.

The group stage will begin on the weekend of November 21–23, with two matchdays scheduled before the start of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025. The competition will pause during the continental tournament and resume from January 23–25, 2026.

The knockout phase is set to commence on March 13, 2026. This season’s CAF Champions League winner will take home $4 million in prize money, while the runners-up will earn $2 million.

Full Group Draw:
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 Sportive 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