Pyramids and Berkane set for blockbuster reunion following TotalEnergies CAF Champions League Group Stage draw

A thrilling rematch between reigning champions Pyramids FC of Egypt and Moroccan giants RS Berkane will headline the 2025/26 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League group stage after the official draw was conducted at the studios of CAF Broadcast Partner SuperSport in Johannesburg on Monday.

A star-studded field featuring seven former African champions and the reigning title-holders promises one of the most competitive group phases in recent memory.

Group A headlines the narrative with a marquee rematch as RS Berkane and Pyramids FC, winners of last season’s TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup and TotalEnergies CAF Champions League respectively, renew rivalries after their recent CAF Super Cup clash that was won 1-0 by Pyramids.

Nigeria’s Rivers United and Zambia’s Power Dynamos complete a compelling quartet.

Record 12-time winners Al Ahly anchor Group B, where they meet Tanzania’s Young Africans, Moroccan champions AS FAR and two-time African champions JS Kabylie, a pool steeped in history and rivalry.

Group C pairs perennial contenders Mamelodi Sundowns with Al Hilal, MC Alger and St Éloi Lupopo, clubs with rich pedigree and fervent followings.

Four-time winners Espérance de Tunis headline Group D, alongside Simba SC, Petro de Luanda and Stade Malien, setting up heavyweight duels across the competition.

The Group Stage will kick off on the weekend of 21–23 November 2025, with two matchdays to be played before the start of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025.

The competition will then pause during the continental showpiece and resume on the weekend of 23–25 January 2026.

The knockout phase will begin on 13 March 2026. The TotalEnergies CAF Champions League winners will receive $4 000 000 in prize money, while the runners-up will earn $2 000 000.

TOTALENERGIES CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GROUPS

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)

CAF INTERCLUB GROUP STAGE MATCH DAYS

MD1: 21-23 November

MD2: 28-30 November

MD3: 23-25 January

MD4: 30 Janunary-1 February

MD5: 6-8 February

MD6: 13-15 February

As anticipation builds ahead of the start of the Group Stage of the 2025/26 season TotalEnergies CAF Champions League, all eyes are turning to the stars expected to define this season’s campaign.

The road to Africa’s most prestigious club trophy has already delivered moments of brilliance but the group stage - where the continent’s giants collide - promises an even higher level of intensity and drama.

From Cairo to Casablanca, Pretoria to Rabat, the tournament’s best talents are ready to showcase the strength and diversity of African football.

This year’s line-up blends familiar names with new faces - a mix of proven match-winners and emerging stars eager to leave their mark on the continental stage.

With powerhouses like Al Ahly, Mamelodi Sundowns, Espérance, and Pyramids FC all in contention, individual brilliance could prove decisive.

Here are five standout players to watch as the 2025/26 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League group stage kicks off - each capable of shaping the destiny of their clubs and lighting up Africa’s biggest football stage.

Fiston Mayele – Pyramids FC (Egypt)

Few strikers have had a more remarkable year than Fiston Mayele. The Congolese goal machine topped the scoring charts in last season’s CAF Champions League and carried that momentum into the Fifa Intercontinental Cup, where his hat-trick against Al Ahli Saudi captured global attention. A ruthless finisher blessed with pace, power, and precision, Mayele also netted the decisive goal in Pyramids’ CAF Super Cup triumph, confirming his reputation as a big-game player. Already off the mark with three goals in this year’s qualifiers, he’s chasing more silverware - and remains among the frontrunners for CAF Player of the Year and Interclub Player of the Year honours.

Oussama Lamlioui – RS Berkane (Morocco)

Oussama Lamlioui, the spearhead of RS Berkane, continues to shine as one of Africa’s most consistent scorers. After topping the charts in both the CAF Confederation Cup and the CHAN tournament last season, the Moroccan forward has proven himself a master of movement and composure in pressure moments. Berkane are now aiming to translate their Confederation Cup dominance into Champions League success - and Lamlioui’s sharpness in front of goal will be central to that mission. With three goals already in the preliminary rounds and multiple CAF Awards nominations, he’s fast becoming one of Morocco’s most feared attacking talents.

Florian Danho – Espérance de Tunis (Tunisia)

A shrewd signing from Denmark’s Randers FC, Florian Danho has wasted no time making his mark in North Africa. The French-Ivorian winger’s mix of pace, flair and directness has injected new life into Espérance de Tunis’s attack. In just a handful of appearances, he’s scored twice in four league games and added two more in the Champions League qualifiers - proof that he’s settling in seamlessly. Valued at around $1.2-million, Danho looks every inch a rising star and could be the breakout name of this season’s tournament if his early form continues.

Nuno Miguel Santos – Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)

The arrival of Nuno Miguel Santos from Portugal’s Vitória Guimarães underscores Mamelodi Sundowns’ ambition to dominate on every front. A former Portuguese youth international, Santos brings tactical discipline, European experience and creative flair to a team already loaded with talent. His ability to dictate tempo and unlock tight defenses gives the South African champions a fresh attacking edge as they mount another charge for continental supremacy.

Emam Ashour – Al Ahly SC (Egypt)

Dynamic, intelligent, and technically gifted, Emam Ashour stands out as one of Africa’s most complete midfielders. After an impressive 2024/25 campaign - where he tallied five goals and two assists in the Champions League - Ashour has firmly established himself as the heartbeat of Al Ahly’s midfield. His relentless energy and knack for scoring in crucial matches make him indispensable as the Red Devils pursue yet another CAF title. A nomination for Interclub Player of the Year only further solidifies his status among the continent’s elite.

Meanwhile, there will be an Egyptian Derby in the Group Stages of the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup 2025/26 after Zamalek and Al Masry were paired together when the draw was conducted at the studios of CAF Broadcast Partner SuperSport in Johannesburg on Monday.

Zamalek, who lifted the trophy in the 2023/24 season, will face familiar opponents in Group D, along with South African giants Kaizer Chiefs and Zambian outfit ZESCO United in what looks a tough pool.

USM Alger from Algeria are the top seeds in Group A and face Djoliba AC de Bamako (Mali), Olympique Club de Safi (Morocco) and FC San Pedro (Cote d’Ivoire) in their pool.

Three-time TotalEnergies CAF Champions League winners Wydad Casablanca from Morocco headline Group B and will take on AS Maniema (DR Congo), Azam FC (Tanzania) and debutants Nairobi United (Kenya).

Algeria’s CR Belouizdad will be up against last year’ semi-finalists Stellenbosch FC from South Africa, as well as AS Otoho (Congo) and Singida Black Stars (Tanzania) in Group C.

The Group Stages begin on the weekend of 21-23 November with two rounds played ahead of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025. They will resume on the weekend of 23-25 January.

Moroccan side RS Berkane are the current defending champions in the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup when they claimed their joint record third title by beating Simba SC of Tanzania in last year’s final.

That drew them level with Tunisia’s CS Sfaxien on the all-time winners list.

Zamelek’s two titles and USM Alger’s single success in 2022/23 make them the only former champions remaining in this year’s field.

The winners of this year’s title will take home $2-million in prizemoney with the runners-up to receive $1-million.

The teams that advance from the group are guaranteed a minimum of $550 000, while the teams that finish third and fourth in their pool receive $400 000.

TOTALENERGIES CAF CONFEDERATION CUP GROUPS

GROUP A: USM Alger (Algeria), Djoliba AC de Bamako (Mali), Olympique Club de Safi (Morocco), FC San Pedro (Cote d’Ivoire)

GROUP B: Wydad Casablanca (Morocco), AS Maniema (DR Congo), Azam FC (Tanzania), Nairobi United (Kenya)

GROUP C: CR Belouizdad (Algeria), Stellenbosch FC (South Africa), AS Otoho (Congo), Singida Black Stars (Tanzania)

GROUP D: Zamalek (Egypt), Al Masry (Egypt), Kaizer Chiefs (South Africa), ZESCO United (Zambia)

CAF INTERCLUB GROUP STAGE MATCH DAYS

MD1: 21-23 November

MD2: 28-30 November

MD3: 23-25 January

MD4: 30 Janunary-1 February

MD5: 6-8 February

MD6: 13-15 February

Also on Monday the Confédération Africaine de Football (“CAF”) unveiled the new visual identity for its prestigious CAF Interclub competitions, the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League and TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup.

The refreshed identity captures the rhythm, passion and energy that define African football and its vibrant fan culture.

Under the creative platform “The Heartbeat of African Football”, CAF’s Interclub competitions celebrate the unity, emotion and energy that connect the continent through the beautiful game.

Built on the concept of a living rhythm, the new design draws direct inspiration from movement on the football pitch.

At the core of this new identity lies the Heartbeat Wave, shaped by three rhythmic elements that celebrate the soul of CAF Interclub competitions:

PEAK: Representing the Clubs and moments of triumph that push the rhythm upward.

FLOW: Representing the Game and Players, whose motion keeps the pulse alive, like blades of grass responding to movement.

REPITITION: Representing the Fans’ Rhythm, the chants, drums, and dances that create a steady beat inside the stadium.

ABOUT THE NEW IDENTITY: Flowing lines stretch and shift across the design, echoing the texture and motion of the pitch, symbolizing the constant movement, emotion, and intensity of African football.

Every design element is crafted to reflect the heartbeat and rich story of African football.

This dynamic brand identity ensures that every message, image, and design expression beats with the same pulse, bold, modern and proudly African.

The new identity also opens limitless opportunities for bold and engaging brand expressions across broadcast, digital and event platforms, bringing fans even closer to the competitions that represent the true rhythm of African football.