CAF Champions League
CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: ESPERANCE FIGHT BACK IN FINAL
BY APESIN ADEMOLA.
Espérance have a mountain to climb as the CAF Champions League gets to crescendo. The Tunisians will have to fight back to cancel a 1-3 deficit acquired in the encounter with Al Ahly a week ago in a tempestuous first leg of the continental showpiece in Alexandria.
The Alexandria encounter was marred by questionable decisions by the centre referee Walid Azarou, who awarded two unfair penalties to the home team. Both decisions were Video Assistant Referee (VAR) aided.
The second leg has been overshadowed by the controversies of the first encounter, including Azarou’s shirt-tearing celebration, which attracted CAF ban for the Al-Ahly attacker, and also asked manager Patrice Carteron to answer disciplinary query over his own conduct.
All said, Espérance believe they can add to their two previous triumphs in this competition by cancelling the deficit and going on to stop the Egyptian side from a record extending ninth title in Africa’s most glamorous club tournaments.
Coach Moine Chaabani is upset about the Alexandria show, which he described as “extreme injustice.” But he has asked his charges to respond with a commanding performance in the field of play.
The Tunis-based team will miss the services of two key players – Chamseddine Dhaouadi in defence and midfielder Franck Kom – who Chaabani is convinced were unfairly booked.
Espérance won the competition in 1994 and 2011 and had been in the final four other times.
Ahly have the advantage. They surely understand this tournament so well. As recent as the last edition, the Red Devils were in the final losing 1-2 aggregate to Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca. And they will not want a repeat experience so soon.
Not only will the winning team claim the trophy and the US$2.5 million cash prize, they will also go on to represent the continent in the FIFA Club World Cup next month in the United Arab Emirates.
Fixture…
CAF Champions League (Final second leg):
- Espérance (Tunisia) v Al-Ahly (Egypt) (first leg Al-Ahly 3-1) (8pm)
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) will conduct the quarter-final draws for the 2025/26 editions of its two flagship interclub competitions — the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup — on Tuesday, 17 February 2026, at the headquarters of the Egyptian Football Association in Cairo.
The CAF Confederation Cup quarter-final draw is scheduled to begin at 13:00 Cairo time (11:00 GMT), followed by the CAF Champions League quarter-final draw at 14:00 Cairo time (12:00 GMT).
The ceremonies will be broadcast live on CAF’s official YouTube platform, CAF TV, allowing fans across the continent and beyond to follow proceedings in real time.
Road to the Finals Takes Shape
The draws will determine not only the quarter-final pairings but also the pathway to the finals in both competitions, effectively mapping out the remaining knockout journey for Africa’s elite clubs.
With the group stages concluded, the quarter-finals mark the beginning of direct elimination football — a phase traditionally defined by tactical discipline, squad depth and mental resilience. Clubs will be keenly watching the draw to gauge potential heavyweight clashes or favourable routes to the semi-finals.
In the Champions League, former title holders and emerging contenders alike will be hoping to avoid early confrontations against continental heavyweights. Similarly, in the Confederation Cup, where competitive balance has grown in recent seasons, the draw could produce intriguing North-South or West-East showdowns.
Strategic Importance for Clubs
Beyond sporting prestige, progression to the latter stages of CAF competitions carries significant financial incentives, enhanced continental ranking points and increased global visibility. With African club football enjoying expanded broadcast reach and commercial partnerships, success in these tournaments has become both a sporting and economic objective.
Hosting the draws at the Egyptian FA headquarters in Cairo reinforces the city’s status as a nerve centre of African football administration, as clubs await clarity on their next assignments in what promises to be a decisive knockout phase of the 2025/26 campaign.
All eyes will now turn to Cairo as Africa’s road to continental glory becomes clearer.
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Moroccan side RS Berkane delivered a commanding 3–0 victory over Rivers United FC to book their place in the knockout stages of the competition.
Berkane imposed themselves early and broke the deadlock in the 35th minute when Youssef Mehri fired into the bottom corner following a swift attacking move.
The hosts doubled their lead seven minutes later as Paul Valère Bassène finished clinically after being played through by Mounir Chouiar, leaving Rivers United with a mountain to climb before halftime.
The contest was effectively settled eight minutes into the second half. Bassène grabbed his second of the night in the 53rd minute, converting from close range after a corner to put the result beyond doubt.
Berkane maintained control for the remainder of the match, limiting Rivers United to speculative efforts and half-chances before comfortably seeing out the encounter.
With the results, Pyramids FC finish top of Group A, while RS Berkane join them in the knockout phase as runners-up, bringing the group stage to a decisive conclusion.
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Reigning CAF Champions League holders Pyramids FC signed off their group-stage campaign in style with a 3–1 victory over Power Dynamos FC on Matchday 6 to secure top spot in Group A.
The Egyptian side made a bright start and went ahead in the 16th minute when Mostafa Ziko rose highest to head home from a corner, underlining their early dominance.
Power Dynamos responded almost immediately. Frederick Mulambia restored parity a minute later, finishing from close range after a well-worked cross to briefly unsettle the hosts.
However, Pyramids regained control midway through the first half. In the 33rd minute, Youssef Obama reacted quickest inside the penalty area to restore the lead, sending the defending champions into the break 2–1 ahead.
The decisive moment came in the 59th minute when Ewerton unleashed a superb right-footed strike from outside the box that nestled into the bottom corner, extending the advantage to 3–1.
Despite late substitutions and sporadic pressure from the visitors, Pyramids managed proceedings comfortably to claim all three points and finish the group stage at the summit.
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