Egyptian powerhouse Al Ahly and South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns are some of the big guns that have made it to the group stage of the 2025/26 CAF Champions League.
As per CAF, the race to reach the group stage has produced 14 confirmed qualifiers, with two remaining berths to be decided next week.
Record 12-time Champions League winners Al Ahly continued their relentless pursuit of a 13th crown, advancing after a professional 2–0 aggregate victory over Aigle Noir.
In Pretoria, Sundowns extended their good showing on the continent with an emphatic 7–1 aggregate victory over Nigeria’s Remo Stars, sealing their passage for an 11th straight season.
Esperance Tunis, four-time African champions, also booked their place with minimal fuss after dispatching Rahimo FC 4–0 on aggregate.
Elsewhere, Morocco’s FAR Rabat secured back-to-back group stage qualifications following a commanding 3–0 home victory over Horoya AC of Guinea, completing a 4–1 aggregate win.
Algerian football will have two representatives this season. JS Kabylie eliminated US Monastir 5–1 on aggregate, while MC Alger, who are guided by Rulani Mokwena, returned to the group stage after edging Colombe of Cameroon 1–1 on aggregate via the away goals rule.
Petro de Luanda carried Angola’s hopes with conviction, recording back-to-back 2–0 wins over Stade d’Abidjan to progress 4–0 on aggregate. The Angolan giants are targeting another strong campaign after making a good impression in recent years.
Simba SC ensured Tanzanian representation with a disciplined 3–0 aggregate win over Nsingizini Hotspurs, while Stade Malien delivered one of the weekend’s standout performances — a 2–0 home win to seal a 3–1 aggregate triumph over FC Nouadhibou, confirming Mali’s presence in the next phase.
The CAF Interclub Group Stage Draw will take place on Monday, 3 November, at SuperSport Studios in Johannesburg, with proceedings starting at 14:00 SA time (12:00 GMT). The draw will be streamed live on CAF’s official digital channels.
The 16 teams will be divided into four groups of four, with matches beginning in November. The top two in each group will advance to the quarter-finals as the battle for Africa’s biggest club prize intensifies.
Teams Qualified for the 2025/26 CAF Champions League Group Stage;
Al Ahly (Egypt), Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa), ES Tunis (Tunisia), AS FAR Rabat (Morocco), MC Alger (Algeria), JS Kabylie (Algeria), Petro de Luanda (Angola), Simba SC (Tanzania), Young Africans (Tanzania), Stade Malien (Mali), Al-Hilal Omdurman (Sudan), Power Dynamos (Zambia), St. Éloi Lupopo (DR Congo), Rivers United (Nigeria), Pyramids (Egypt) or Ethiopian Insurance (Ethiopia), and RS Berkane (Morocco) or Al Ahly Tripoli (Libya).
Teams Qualified for the 2025/26 CAF Confederation Cup Group Stage;
Kaizer Chiefs (South Africa), Stellenbosch (South Africa), Azam (Tanzania), Zamalek (Egypt), CB Belouizdad (Algeria), USM Alger (Algeria), Wydad Casablanca (Morocco), ZESCO United (Zambia), AS Maniema (DR Congo), San Pedro (Ivory Coast), Singida Black Stars (Tanzania), Olympique de Safi (Morocco), Otoho d’Oyo (Congo), Djoliba (Mali), Nairobi United (Kenya) and Al Masry (Egypt).
