The draws for the group stage of the 2025-26 CAF Champions League was held at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg on Monday, SportPremi reports.
The 16 teams that had secured qualification in the qualifying rounds found out their opponents as the battle to dethrone defending champions Pyramids was underway.
The competition will take a break for the 2025 African Cup of Nations, resuming back in January 2026.
The group matches will commence on the weekend of the 21st till 23rd of November, 2025. .
The knockout phase of the competition will kickstart in March next year, with the top two sides from each group securing qualification.
Read this: Finidi George breaks 7-year jinx as Rivers United qualify for Champions League
Rivers United face tough opponents in Group A
Rivers United made history by becoming the first Nigerian club since Lobi Stars in 2019 to reach the group stages of the competition.
The former Nigerian Premier Football League winners defeated Black Bulls of Mozambique in the final preliminary round to book their spot in the 16-team group phase.
Finidi George’s side face a daunting task of qualifying from the group stages following a tough draw.
The Pride of Rivers have been grouped alongside defending champions Pyramids, RS Berkane and Power Dynamos.
Pyramids – winners of the CAF Champions League and RS Berkane – winners of the CAF Confederations Cup, renew their rivalry from the UEFA Super Cup, which the Egypt side won following a 1-0 result.
Power Dynamos are underdogs in the group and are making their debut in the group stage of the competition.
Al Ahly favorites to progress from Group B
Record winners Al Ahly will be expected to qualify from Group B, which also includes Young Africans of Tanzania, AS FAR of Morocco and JS Kabylie of Algeria.
Sundowns and MC Alger favorites from Group C
South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns thrashed Nigerian champions Remo Stars in the final qualifying round to book their spot in the group stages of the competition.
St Éloi Lupopo, alongside Al Hilal and MC Alger could pull off an upset in the group.
Group D
Tunisian powerhouses Esperance face Tanzania’s Simba, Petron de Luanda and Stade Malien.
The four-time champions have qualified for a 23rd group stage appearance and for a 10th consecutive time.
The Group Stages in full:
•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)
