Nigeria’s flagbearers, Rivers United, face a stern early test on Saturday night as they storm Cairo to take on Egyptian giants Pyramids FC and defending champions in one of the headline fixtures of Matchday 1 of the CAF Champions’ League group stage.

The encounter — one of the biggest opening-night clashes — pits Rivers United against the reigning Champions League holders, who are banking on home support and continental pedigree to begin their title defence on a strong note.

For Rivers United, the match offers a major opportunity to assert Nigeria’s relevance in Africa’s elite club competition after years of inconsistency by NPFL sides on the continental scene.

Africa’s premier club tournaments — the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup — officially return this weekend, featuring a packed field of heavyweights and ambitious challengers from every region of the continent.

Aside from the Pyramids vs Rivers United showdown, Matchday 1 delivers several high-profile duels. Morocco’s RS Berkane host Zambia’s Power Dynamos in another headline fixture, while Africa’s most successful club, Al Ahly, begin their chase for a record-extending 13th crown at home to JS Kabylie.

Elsewhere, four-time champions Espérance de Tunis welcome Stade Malien, and Mamelodi Sundowns kick off their campaign against DR Congo’s St Éloi Lupopo. Young Africans face AS FAR in a Tanzania–Morocco duel rich in history and rivalry.

In the CAF Confederation Cup, former winners Zamalek and USM Alger headline a strong field that also includes Wydad, CR Belouizdad, Kaizer Chiefs, Stellenbosch, Azam and ZESCO United. Newcomers Nairobi United embark on their maiden continental journey with a tough trip to Wydad.

An all-Egyptian group promises fireworks as Zamalek host ZESCO and Al Masry battle Kaizer Chiefs. Other notable fixtures include OC Safi travelling to Djoliba and Maniema Union hosting Azam in a vibrant East–Central Africa clash.

Two matchdays will be completed before action pauses for the Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025. The group stage will resume in January 2026.

MATCHDAY 1 FIXTURES (All times GMT)

CAF Champions League
Friday, 21 November
13:00 — Al-Hilal Omdurman (SUD) vs MC Alger (ALG)

Saturday, 22 November
13:00 — Mamelodi Sundowns (RSA) vs St Éloi Lupopo (DRC)
13:00 — Young Africans (TAN) vs AS FAR Rabat (MAR)
16:00 — Al Ahly (EGY) vs JS Kabylie (ALG)
16:00 — Espérance Tunis (TUN) vs Stade Malien (MLI)
19:00 — RS Berkane (MAR) vs Power Dynamos (ZAM)
19:00 — Pyramids (EGY) vs Rivers United (NGA)

Sunday, 23 November
13:00 — Simba (TAN) vs Petro Atlético (ANG)

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By Kunle Solaja.

Nigeria’s flagbearers, Rivers United, have been handed a challenging test in the group stage of the CAF Champions League, following Monday’s draw held at the SuperSport studios in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The Port Harcourt-based side will compete in Group A, alongside Renaissance Sportive de Berkane of Morocco — the reigning CAF Confederation Cup champions — Pyramids FC of Egypt, last season’s African champions, and Power Dynamos of Zambia.

The draw, conducted at 1:00 p.m. local time, set up what promises to be one of the most competitive groups of this season’s tournament, bringing together four clubs with strong continental ambitions.

For Rivers United, it marks a return to the CAF Champions League group phase with the hope of surpassing their previous continental outings.

The Nigerian side will be aiming to make a strong impression against two North African giants and a seasoned Southern African opponent.

Group A is being widely described as a “battle of champions,” featuring teams that have recently lifted major domestic and continental titles.

RS Berkane, in particular, have emerged as one of Africa’s most consistent clubs in recent years, while Pyramids’ rapid rise has made them a formidable force in African club football.

Elsewhere, Group B has been tagged the “group of death,” pairing Al Ahly of Egypt — record 11-time African champions — with Young Africans of Tanzania, AS FAR of Morocco, and JS Kabylie of Algeria.

The group stage matches are expected to kick off later this month, with fixtures running through the early months of 2026. The top two teams in each of the four groups will advance to the quarter-finals.

For Rivers United, the journey ahead promises to test their resilience, tactical discipline, and continental pedigree — as they once again carry Nigeria’s hopes on the biggest stage of African club football.

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The Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) has unveiled a bold new visual identity for its flagship interclub tournaments — the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup — ahead of the highly anticipated group stage draws.

The new design, launched on Monday, comes under the creative platform “The Heartbeat of African Football” and aims to capture the rhythm, passion, and unity that define the continent’s game. The official reveal was preceded by the group stage draw ceremony, took place at the studios of CAF’s broadcast partner, SuperSport, in Johannesburg, South Africa.

According to CAF, the refreshed identity embodies “the living rhythm of African football,” drawing inspiration from the movement and energy of the game on the pitch.

At its core is the Heartbeat Wave — a dynamic design built around three rhythmic elements that celebrate the soul of the competitions:

• Peak: Symbolizing the clubs and moments of triumph that elevate the rhythm.
• Flow: Representing the game and players, whose motion sustains the heartbeat, like blades of grass reacting to play.
• Repetition: Echoing the rhythm of fans — their chants, drums, and dances that create an unbroken beat inside stadiums.

Flowing lines in the design mirror the texture and motion of the football pitch, symbolizing the constant energy, emotion, and intensity of African football. Each element, CAF explains, was crafted to reflect “the heartbeat and rich story of African football” while projecting a bold, modern, and proudly African visual language.

The new identity will feature prominently across broadcast, digital, and event platforms, with CAF emphasizing its goal to enhance fan engagement and create a stronger emotional connection to its club competitions.

With this rebrand, CAF aims to position its interclub tournaments not only as sporting contests but as living celebrations of Africa’s passion, creativity, and football heritage.

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