Despite consistent appearances in recent CAF Interclub competitions, Nigeria’s Remo Stars and Kwara United are glaring absentees from the latest CAF Clubs’ Ranking released on Friday.

Remo Stars have represented Nigeria in each of the past three seasons, featuring in the 2022/23 CAF Confederation Cup, the 2023/24 CAF Champions League, and again in the 2024/25 Champions League. Similarly, Kwara United competed in the 2022/23 Confederation Cup, having also featured in the CAF Cup in 1999 and the Confederation Cup in 2007.

Only two Nigerian clubs made the 2025 list — Rivers United, ranked 23rd, and two-time African champions Enyimba, placed 35th despite not competing in continental club football this season. Debutants Abia Warriors remain unranked.

To download a graphic of the CAF Clubs’ Ranking for 2025, CLICK HERE. 

At the top of the rankings, Al Ahly of Egypt maintain their stronghold on African club football, retaining the number one spot with 78 points. The 11-time Champions League winners have claimed four titles in the last six seasons, underlining their dominance ahead of Saturday’s draws for the 2025/26 CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns sit second with 62 points, followed by Tunisia’s Espérance Sportive de Tunis (57) in third place. Morocco’s RS Berkane, last season’s Confederation Cup winners, are fourth with 52 points, while Simba SC of Tanzania (48) complete the top five as East Africa’s highest-ranked club.

Egypt’s Pyramids FC (6th, 47 points) and Zamalek SC (7th, 42) add to the North African dominance, alongside Morocco’s Wydad AC (8th, 39) and Raja CA (joint 15th, 30). Algeria’s USM Alger (9th, 37) and CR Belouizdad (10th, 36) round off the top ten.

Some emerging sides have also made notable strides — South Africa’s Stellenbosch FC are joint 21st with 15 points despite limited continental history, while Ghana’s Dreams FC are 26th after a recent impressive run.

The updated rankings will determine seedings for Saturday’s preliminary draws, shaping the path for clubs chasing continental glory in the upcoming season.

CAF CLUBS’ RANKING 2025

1. Al Ahly FC (Egypt) – 78 points

2. Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) – 62

3. Espérance Sportive de Tunis (Tunisia) – 57

4. RS Berkane (Morocco) – 52

5. Simba SC (Tanzania) – 48

6. Pyramids FC (Egypt) – 47

7. Zamalek SC (Egypt) – 42

8. Wydad AC (Morocco) – 39

9. USM Alger (Algeria) – 37

10. CR Belouizdad (Algeria) – 36

11. Al Hilal SC (Sudan) – 34

11 Young Africans (Tanzania) – 34

13. ASEC Mimosas (Cote d’Ivoire) – 33

14. TP Mazembe (DR Congo) – 30.5

15. Orlando Pirates (South Africa) – 30

15 Raja CA (Morocco) – 30

17. Atletico Petroleos (Angola) – 27

18. AS FAR (Morocco) – 21

28 MC Alger (Algeria) – 21

20. GD Sagrada Esperança (Angola) – 20

21. CS Constantine (Algeria) – 15

21 Stellenbosch FC (South Africa) – 15

23. Al Masry SC (Egypt) – 14

23 Rivers United FC (Nigeria) – 14

25. JS Kabylie (Algeria) – 13

26. Dreams FC (Ghana) – 12

27. Stade Malien (Mali) – 10.5

28. Horoya AC (Guinea) – 10

29. Future FC (Egypt) – 9.5

30. Etoile SS (Tunisia) – 9

30 Marumo Gallants FC (South Africa) – 9

32. E.S. Setif (Algeria) – 8

32 FC Nouadhibou (Mauritania) – 8

32 Abu Salim SC (Libya) – 8

35. Enyimba FC (Nigeria) – 7

35 ASC Jaraaf (Senegal) – 7

35 Coton Sport FC de Garoua (Cameroon) – 7

38. CS Sfaxien (Tunisia) – 6.5

39. Jwaneng Galaxy FC (Botswana) – 6

39 US Monastirienne (Tunisia) – 6

39 Al Merrikh SC (Sudan) – 6

39 Al Ahli Tripoli (Libya) – 6

43. CD Lunda-Sul (Angola) – 5

43 FC Bravos do Maquis (Angola) – 5

43 Stade d’Abidjan (Cote d’Ivoire) – 5

43 Djoliba AC de Bamako (Mali) – 5

43 AS Maniema Union (DR Congo) – 5

43 CSMD Diables Noirs (Republic of Congo) – 5

43 AS Vita Club (DR Congo) – 5

50. Kaizer Chiefs (South Africa) – 4

50 Medeama SC (Ghana) – 4

50 Al Hilal Benghazi (Libya)

50 Sekhukhune United (South Africa) – 4

50 Club Africain (Tunisia) – 4

50 Al Ittihad (Libya) – 4

50 AmaZulu (South Africa) – 4

57. FC St Eloi Lupopo (DR Congo) – 3

57 AS Real de Bamako (Mali) – 3

57 ASKO de Kara (Togo) – 3

57 Vipers SC (Uganda) – 3

61. Orapa United (Botswana) – 2.5

61 Associação Black Bulls (Mozambique) – 2.5

63. A.P.C. de Lobito (Angola) – 2

63 S.O.A.R. (Guinea) – 2

63 SuperSport United (South Africa) – 2

63. JS Saoura (Algeria) – 2

63 AS Otohô (Republic of Congo) – 2

63 DC Motema Pembe (DR Congo) – 2

69. Al Akhder (Libya) – 1.5

70. Royal Leopards FC (Eswatini) – 1

70 US Gendarmerie Nationale (Niger) – 1

70 Zanaco FC (Zambia) – 1

70. Teungueth FC (Senegal) – 1

70 Nkana FC (Zambia) – 1

75. Salitas FC (Burkina Faso) – 0.5

75 Ahli Benghazi (Libya) – 0.5

75 Namungo FC (Tanzania) – 0.5

75 Napsa Stars FC (Zambia) – 0.5

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

As anticipation builds across the continent for the next edition of the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced two of Tanzania’s most celebrated football icons as Draw Assistants for Saturday’s historic event in Dar es Salaam.

Simba SC legend Abdalla “King” Kibadeni Mputa and Young Africans SC trailblazer Sunday Manara will take centre stage at the state-of-the-art Azam Media Studios, CAF’s strategic broadcast hub in East Africa, for the draws of Africa’s flagship interclub competitions.

This year’s ceremony, scheduled for 13:00 local time (10:00 GMT), will be the first-ever CAF Interclub season draw hosted in East Africa — a landmark moment that underscores the region’s growing influence, with rising stadium attendances and expanding television audiences for CAF competitions. The event will be broadcast live across all CAF Broadcast Partners and streamed on CAF’s official YouTube channel, CAF TV.

CAF Profiles the Legends
Kibadeni, fondly known as “King Mputa,” became a household name in East African football when he became the first Simba SC player to score a hat-trick in the fiercely contested Kariakoo Derby against Young Africans SC in 1977. After his playing career, he successfully transitioned into coaching, earning the Coach of the Season award with Kagera Sugar FC in 2013.

Manara, meanwhile, holds the distinction of being the first Tanzanian to play professional football in Europe, signing with Dutch side Heracles Almelo in 1977 after debuting for Young Africans SC in 1970. His career took him across the globe, with spells in the Netherlands, the United States, Australia, and the United Arab Emirates, helping put Tanzanian football firmly on the international map.

Roadmap to the New Season
The Preliminary Round of the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup will begin on 19 September 2025, followed by the Second Preliminary Round from 17 October 2025. Group Stage action kicks off on 21 November 2025, with the knockout phase scheduled to start on 13 March 2026.

Saturday’s event will not only reveal the opening matchups for Africa’s top club sides but will also celebrate East Africa’s rising role in shaping the future of African football.

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

Nigeria’s four continental representatives — Remo Stars, Rivers United, Abia Warriors, and Kwara United — will discover their preliminary round opponents in the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup when the draw is held this Saturday, August 9, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

This marks the first time the CAF InterClub competition draws will be hosted in Tanzania, one of the co-hosts of the ongoing African Nations Championship (CHAN).

Unlike top-seeded clubs from Morocco and Egypt, which have earned exemptions from the preliminary stages due to their superior club coefficients, Nigeria’s flagbearers are expected to feature from the opening round of matches.

CAF Confederation Cup holders RS Berkane of Morocco are among the Champions League clubs automatically exempted, along with Al Ahly of Egypt, Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa), Espérance de Tunis (Tunisia), and Petro Atlético (Angola).

In the CAF Confederation Cup, Wydad Casablanca (Morocco), Zamalek, and Al Masry (both of Egypt) will also bypass the opening round.

CAF announced that Saturday’s draw will take place at 13h00 local time (10h00 GMT) and will be streamed live on CAF’s YouTube channel and through its official broadcast partners.

The event will be hosted at Azam Media Studios in Dar es Salaam — a nod to the growing influence of East Africa in CAF’s broadcasting strategy and audience reach. Azam joins a list of CAF’s key partners, including SuperSport, beIN Sport, and Canal+, that have hosted previous draws.

The draw officially kicks off another season of Africa’s premier club football competitions, with the Preliminary Round scheduled to begin on 19 September 2025.

The Second Preliminary Round follows on 17 October, while the Group Stage action begins on 21 November 2025. The knockout stages will commence on 13 March 2026.

The quartet of Nigerian clubs now await their fate, as they prepare to navigate what promises to be a fiercely competitive InterClub campaign.

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H