CAF Champions League Group Stage Draw Set for Monday in Johannesburg
The draw for the 2025/26 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League group stage will take place on Monday, 3 November, at the SuperSport Studios in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Sixteen clubs from across the continent will find out their group-stage opponents when the draw begins at 14:00 local time (12:00 GMT). The line-up includes some of Africa’s biggest teams, rising sides, and a few debutants, all hoping to challenge for the title.
Nigeria’s Rivers United are among the teams making history this year, reaching the group stage for the first time after defeating Mozambique’s Black Bulls 3–2 on aggregate. They are the first Nigerian team to make it this far since Lobi Stars in the 2018/2019 season.
Other leading clubs include Al Ahly of Egypt, the competition’s most successful side with 12 titles, Esperance de Tunis of Tunisia, Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa, Al Hilal of Sudan, and last season’s winners Pyramids FC of Egypt.
The full list of qualified teams includes:
- Rivers United (Nigeria)
- Al Ahly (Egypt)
- Al Hilal (Sudan)
- Esperance de Tunis (Tunisia)
- AS FAR Rabat (Morocco)
- JS Kabylie (Algeria)
- Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)
- MC Alger (Algeria)
- Petro de Luanda (Angola)
- Power Dynamos (Zambia)
- Pyramids FC (Egypt)
- RS Berkane (Morocco)
- Simba SC (Tanzania)
- Stade Malien (Mali)
- St Éloi Lupopo (DR Congo)
- Young Africans (Tanzania)
The 16 clubs will be drawn into four groups of four, with the top two from each group advancing to the quarter-finals.
Group-stage matches are scheduled to begin between 21 and 22 November 2025, while the final will be played over two legs on 16 and 23 May 2026.
This year’s draw promises exciting matchups as both new contenders and familiar powerhouses aim to write their names into African football history.
