The Quarter-finals of the CAF Champions League 2025/26 will see a showdown between Africa’s elite clubs this weekend, with four intriguing first-leg clashes that showcase the quality and competitiveness of club football on the continent.
With the Confederation of African Football (CAF) having announced this week an increase in prize money of USD 6 million (R99 million) for the winners, there is plenty of incentive for the eight clubs remaining in the competition.
The group stage provided rich entertainment, but now begins the knockout rounds, where the margins for error are small as Africa’s giants collide.
The 2016 champions, Mamelodi Sundowns from South Africa, will host Stade Malien of Mali in Pretoria on Friday, 13 March (kick-off 20h00 local time / 18h00 GMT), looking to go one better than their runner-up finish last season.
Sundowns’ experience in continental football means they are regular visitors to this stage of the competition, but Stade Malien have reached the knockout rounds of the CAF Champions League for the first time since 1985.
Defending champions Pyramids FC from Egypt will travel to Morocco for the first leg of their Quarter-final tie, where they face hosts AS FAR on Friday, 13 March (22h00 local time / 21h00 GMT).
Pyramids managed 16 points from 18 in the group stages, the most of any club, and were also the only side to hit double figures in terms of goals (14). This is a repeat of their Quarter-final tie in 2024/25 when Pyramids won the first leg 4-1, before AS FAR claimed a 2-0 home victory.
Moroccan side RS Berkane will host Al Hilal SC of Sudan in the first leg of their tie on Saturday, 14 March (22h00 local time / 21h00 GMT).
Berkane, who are holders of the CAF Confederation Cup, are in their debut season in the CAF Champions League, while Al Hilal are in the Quarter-finals for the second year in a row.
The only previous meeting between these clubs was in the CAF Confederation Cup in 2018, when Berkane won 3-0 on aggregate.
Record twelve-time champions Al Ahly of Egypt will travel to Tunisia for a clash against regional rivals Espérance Sportive de Tunis on Sunday, 15 March (22h00 local time / 21h00 GMT).
The two clubs have had some memorable meetings down the years, the last in the CAF Champions League 2023/24 Final, where Al Ahly won 1-0 on aggregate.
The second legs of the ties will be played on the weekend of 21–22 March.
Courtesy of CafOnline.
