CAF Champions League
Battle of the Laggards as Rivers United Face Power Dynamos in Crucial CAF Champions League Clash
The CAF Champions League enters a decisive phase this weekend as Matchday 4 of the group stage takes centre stage, with clubs across the continent battling to strengthen their push for places in the quarter-finals.
With the competition now at its halfway point after three rounds of matches, the frontrunners will be keen to consolidate their positions, while teams still on the fringes of qualification look to revive their campaigns.
In Group A, attention will be split between two crucial fixtures on Sunday, February 1. The headline clash will take place in Cairo, where defending champions Pyramids FC host Morocco’s RS Berkane in a top-of-the-table showdown. Both sides are level on seven points, with Berkane holding a slim advantage on goal difference, making the encounter pivotal in the race for supremacy in the group.
Also in Group A, Nigeria’s Rivers United will be in action against Zambia’s Power Dynamos in a match that could prove decisive for the Port Harcourt-based side’s qualification hopes. Rivers United will be targeting maximum points to stay firmly in contention and keep pace with the group leaders as the battle for the quarter-final places intensifies.
Group B fixtures get underway on Saturday, January 31, when Young Africans of Tanzania welcome record champions Al Ahly of Egypt. The Cairo giants are chasing another victory that would move them closer to sealing qualification, while Young Africans, currently second in the group, will be eager to close the gap at the top. Later the same day, Morocco’s AS FAR Rabat face Algeria’s JS Kabylie in another key encounter.
In Group C, action begins on Friday, January 30, with a top-of-the-table clash between Sudan’s Al Hilal and South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns. The two sides are separated only by goal difference, with Sundowns narrowly leading the standings. On Sunday, MC Alger host DR Congo’s St Éloi Lupopo, a fixture that offers the Algerian side a final opportunity to re-enter the qualification race.
Group D matches start on Saturday as Angola’s Petro Atlético welcome Stade Malien of Mali. Stade Malien currently sit top of the group and will be aiming to strengthen their grip on a quarter-final spot further. On Sunday, Tanzania’s Simba SC take on Tunisia’s Espérance de Tunis in a potentially decisive encounter as the fight for qualification reaches a critical stage.
CAF Champions League Matchday 4 Fixtures (All times GMT)
Group A – Sunday, February 1
16:00 — Pyramids FC (EGY) vs RS Berkane (MAR)
16:00 — Rivers United (NGA) vs Power Dynamos (ZAM)
Group B – Saturday, January 31
13:00 — Young Africans SC (TAN) vs Al Ahly SC (EGY)
19:00 — AS FAR Rabat (MAR) vs JS Kabylie (ALG)
Group C
Friday, January 30
19:00 — Al Hilal (SUD) vs Mamelodi Sundowns (RSA)
Sunday, February 1
19:00 — MC Alger (ALG) vs St Éloi Lupopo (DRC)
Group D
Saturday, January 31
16:00 — Petro Atlético (ANG) vs Stade Malien (MLI)
Sunday, February 1
13:00 — Simba SC (TAN) vs Espérance de Tunis (TUN)
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
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.
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
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.
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
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.
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
Trump calls on Australia to give asylum to Iranian women’s soccer players
NFF Slaps N1m Fine on Clubs that Fail to Honour Federation Cup Matches
Heineken Brings “Fans Have More Friends” Campaign to Nigeria for Champions League Round of 16
- WAFCON4 days ago
BREAKING: CAF Postpones WAFCON 2026
- World Cup13 hours ago
Iraq coach calls for delay to World Cup playoff amid travel shutdown
- OBITUARY5 days ago
Nigerian Sports Journalism Mourns Oyeniyi Oyeleke and Tonex Chukwu
- MLS1 week ago
Trump to Host Lionel Messi and Inter Miami at the White House
- DIPLOMACY14 hours ago
Morocco Backs Gulf Security, Condemns Iranian Attacks Against Brotherly Arab States
- World Cup6 days ago
‘I really don’t care’ if Iran plays in World Cup, Trump tells Politico
- World Cup4 days ago
Iraq’s World Cup Playoff in Doubt as War Disrupts Travel and Visa Processing
- FA Cup2 days ago
Eze thunderbolt guides Arsenal past Mansfield into FA Cup quarter-finals