CAF Champions League: Rivers get tough group stage draw, Sundowns to face Rulani in Group C

by Devesh Jaganath | by Devesh Jaganath

image CAF Champions League: Rivers get tough group stage draw, Sundowns to face Rulani in Group C
The CAF Champions League group stage draw was completed on Monday, November 3, in Johannesburg, and the 16 clubs set to contest this season’s competition now know their opponents. Matchday 1 of Africa’s premier club competition kicks off on November 21.

2025-26 CAF Champions League groups confirmed 

Africa’s 16 best clubs are now aware of their opponents for the group stage of the 2025-26 CAF Champions League, and there are several mouth-watering fixtures lined up. 

Group A is one of the most wide-open in the competition, with reigning champs Pyramids FC and Moroccan powerhouse RS Berkane set to face off, while Rivers United and Power Dynamos round out the quartet. 

Reacting to the draw, Rivers United head coach Finidi George admitted that his side is in for a tough battle against some of the best teams on the continent, but he also maintained confidence that the Pride of Rivers are ready to compete at the highest level. 

Al Ahly, 12-time winners of the CAF Champions League, headline Group B, and they will have to overcome Moroccan league champions AS FAR, two-time African champions JS Kabylie, and Tanzanian outfit Young Africans.  

Last season’s runners-up Mamelodi Sundowns are set to compete in the competition for an 11th consecutive edition, and they are the favourites with most of the best online betting sites to top Group C, which also features Al Hilal, MC Alger and St Eloi Lupopo. 

Four-time CAFCL winners Esperence de Tunis were drawn into Group D, alongside Simba SC, Petro de Luanda and Stade Malien. The group stage gets underway on November 21, with two matchdays on the card before the start of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. 

CAF Champions League Groups

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During the CAF Champions League group-stage draw, the 16 teams were seeded based on their performances in CAF competitions over the past five seasons. The groups for the 2025-26 edition of Africa’s top-tier club competition are as follows:

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 Eloi Lupopo (DR Congo)

Group D: Esperence de Tunis (Tunisia), Simba SC (Tanzania), Petro de Luanda (Angola), Stade Malien (Mali)