CAF Champions League
Africa’s Elite Clubs Set for High-Stakes CAF Champions League Quarter-Final Clashes
Africa’s top club sides will battle for supremacy this weekend as the quarter-finals of the CAF Champions League 2025/26 season get underway with four high-profile first-leg encounters across the continent.
With the Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) announcing an increase in prize money, with the winners now set to receive $6 million, the stakes have risen significantly for the eight teams still in contention.
Following a thrilling group stage that delivered several dramatic contests, the competition now enters the knockout phase, where Africa’s football giants must navigate the fine margins that often define success or elimination.
Sundowns Face Historic Challenge from Stade Malien
South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns, winners of the 2016 title, begin their quarter-final campaign at home when they host Mali’s Stade Malien at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria on Friday evening.
Kick-off is scheduled for 20:00 local time (18:00 GMT).
Sundowns, runners-up in last season’s competition, are seasoned campaigners in the latter stages of African club football and will be aiming to secure a strong advantage before the return leg.
Their opponents, however, arrive with renewed ambition. Stade Malien have reached the knockout rounds of the competition for the first time since 1985, marking a historic return to the continental spotlight.
Pyramids Seek Repeat Success Against AS FAR
Another intriguing encounter on Friday will see Egyptian champions Pyramids FC travel to Morocco to face AS FAR at the Stade Olympique de Rabat.
The defending champions have been one of the standout performers in the competition so far. Pyramids amassed 16 points from a possible 18 in the group stage — the highest total among all teams — and were also the only club to reach double figures in goals scored (14).
The tie revives memories of last season’s quarter-final meeting between the two sides. On that occasion, Pyramids secured a commanding 4–1 victory in the first leg, although AS FAR responded with a 2–0 home win in the return fixture.
Debutants Berkane Meet Experienced Al Hilal
Moroccan side RS Berkane, current holders of the CAF Confederation Cup, will host Sudanese giants Al Hilal Omdurman on Saturday at the Stade Municipal de Berkane.
While Berkane are competing in the CAF Champions League for the first time, Al Hilal arrive with greater experience, having reached the quarter-finals for the second consecutive year.
The two clubs have met only once before in continental competition, during the 2018 CAF Confederation Cup, when Berkane advanced with a 3–0 aggregate victory.
North African Heavyweights Clash in Tunisia
The final quarter-final first leg promises to be one of the weekend’s most compelling encounters as Egypt’s Al Ahly SC, the competition’s most successful side with 12 titles, travels to Tunisia to face fierce rivals Espérance Sportive de Tunis.
The match will take place at the Hammadi Agrebi Stadium in Rades on Sunday night.
The two clubs share a long and intense continental rivalry, having met in numerous decisive fixtures over the years. Their most recent clash came in the 2023/24 CAF Champions League final, where Al Ahly triumphed 1–0 on aggregate to lift the trophy.
Return Legs Next Weekend
The second legs of the quarter-final ties are scheduled for the weekend of 21–22 March, when the four semi-finalists of Africa’s premier club competition will be determined.
With continental pride, lucrative prize money and a place in the final four at stake, the stage is set for a weekend of high-intensity football across Africa.
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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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