CAF Champions League
MOROCCO’S RAJA CASABLANCA WINS FIRST CAF SUPER CUP OUTSIDE AFRICA
Moroccan side Raja Club Athletic made amends for their poor season at the continental level by beating Esperance of Tunisia 2-1 on Friday in Doha, Qatar, to win their second CAF Super Cup title.
Following their failure to defend the CAF Confederation Cup title, Raja captain Badr Benoun’s 65th minute back-heel strike decided the match seven minutes after Esperance substitute Youcef Belaili had canceled Abdelilah Hafidi’s first half lead.
The feat saw the Moroccans rewrite the script in the one-off match which has been dominated by the winners of the premier continental club championship.
In the last 20 editions, it was yet another Moroccan side Maghreb Fes who last replicated the feat, again at the expense of Esperance in 2012. It is the third defeat suffered by the reigning African champions, the other in 1999 to Ivorian giants ASEC Mimosas. The only triumph of the Blood and Gold was in 1995.
The first ever CAF Super Cup played outside Africa was surprisingly witnessed by a near capacity crowd at the Al Gharafa Stadium in the Qatari capital.
Raja dominated the first half capitalising on their better start with Soufiane Rahimi creating a lot of problems for the Esperance backline. Hafidi broke the broke the deadlock on 22 minutes, controlling a Mahmoud Benhalib pass before volleying past Esperance goalkeeper Rami Jeridi.
Midway, Rahimi missed a chance to solidify the lead of the Moroccans, as Jeridi had the better of him in a one-on-one situation.
Minutes later, Esperance forward Taha Khenissi missed a sitter to level matters but Raja goalie Anas Zniti saved the situation of for the Green Eagles.
Esperance coach Moine Chaabani brought on Youcef Belaili and Iheb Mbarki after recess, and it paid dividends leading to the equalizer on 57 minutes. Mbarki squared Belaili who curled past Zniti to even the score.
Benoun led by example with a back-heel from a goalmouth action from a Sand Masaud assist to decide the match.
Esperance’s search for the equalizer remained fruitless as Raja cruised to their second title since 2000, when they beat Africa Sports of Cote d’Ivoire.
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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