CAF Competitions Group Stage Kicks Off This Weekend
Africa’s biggest club competitions return this weekend as the Group Stage of the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup gets underway across the continent.
A star-studded field features reigning CAF Champions League winners Pyramids FC, record 12-time champions Al Ahly, four-time winners Espérance de Tunis, South African powerhouse Mamelodi Sundowns, Moroccan giants RS Berkane and AS FAR, alongside ambitious challengers from every CAF zone.
In the CAF Confederation Cup, former champions Zamalek and USM Alger headline a compelling cast that includes Wydad, CR Belouizdad, Kaizer Chiefs, Stellenbosch, Azam, ZESCO United and exciting debutants Nairobi United.
Opening night delivers immediate blockbusters: Pyramids welcome Rivers United in Cairo while RS Berkane face Power Dynamos in a North–South clash rich with subplots.
Heavyweights return with purpose as Al Ahly begin their hunt for a 13th crown against JS Kabylie, Espérance host Stade Malien, and Mamelodi Sundowns test their rhythm against St Éloi Lupopo.
Regional narratives light up the Confederation Cup, where an Egyptian derby group springs into life with Zamalek hosting ZESCO United and Al Masry meeting Kaizer Chiefs.
Fresh chapters are also written by debutants and rising forces, with Nairobi United travelling to Wydad, OC Safi visiting Djoliba, and Maniema Union hosting Azam in a tantalising East–Central Africa duel.
Two matchdays will be played before the start of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025.
The group phase will pause during the continental showpiece and resume in January 2026.
MATCHDAY 1 FIXTURES
CAF Champions League
Friday, 21 November
Al-Hilal Omdurman (Sudan ) vs MC Alger (Algeria)
Saturday, 22 November
Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) vs St Éloi Lupopo (DR Congo)
Young Africans (Tanzania) vs AS FAR Rabat (Morocco)
Al Ahly (Egypt) vs JS Kabylie (Algeria)
Espérance Tunis (Tunisia ) vs Stade Malien (Mali)
19:00 — RS Berkane (Morocco) vs Power Dynamos (Zambia)
Pyramids (Egypt) vs Rivers United (Nigeria)
Sunday, 23 November
Simba (Tanzania) vs Petro Atlético (Angola)
CAF Confederation Cup
Saturday, 22 November
CR Belouizdad (Algeria) vs Singida Black Stars (Tanzania)
Sunday, 23 November
Maniema (DR Congo ) vs Azam (Tanzania)
Stellenbosch (South Africa) vs AS Otoho (Congo)
Al Masry (Egypt) vs Kaizer Chiefs (South Africa)
Djoliba (Mali ) vs OC Safi (Morocco)
USM Alger (Algeria) vs San Pedro (Cote d’Ivoire)
Wydad (Morocco) vs Nairobi United (Kenya)
Zamalek (Egypt) vs ZESCO United (Zambia)
