AS FAR embrace “big challenge” in TotalEnergies CAF Champions League as Dos Santos targets quarters

Moroccan side AS FAR will approach the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League group stage with conviction, careful preparation and a “game-by-game” mindset after being drawn with record winners Al Ahly, Young Africans and JS Kabylie. 

Head coach Alexandre Dos Santos welcomed the competitive nature of Group B and signalled that the immediate priority is a strong start away to Young Africans in Dar es Salaam.

Goalkeeper Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti echoed the message of respect for experienced opponents while insisting the Moroccan champions are ready to match the pace and pressure of Africa’s elite.

Both figures framed the campaign as a six-match mini-tournament in which attention to detail, travel management and consistency will decide who progresses.

Placing the draw in context, Group B is among the headline pools of this season’s TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.

Al Ahly, 12-time champions, anchor the section, with Tanzanian giants Young Africans and two-time African champions JS Kabylie joining AS FAR.

The group stage runs over six matchdays between 21–23 November and 13–15 February, with two rounds before the AFCON break and four after.

Dos Santos stressed that nothing about the draw came as a surprise.

“The Champions League draw is like every draw: you know the 16 teams who arrive are the best in Africa,” he said, before underlining the calibre of Group B.

“Our group is very competitive, very strong. I believe every team has the possibility to have a great Champions League. Everyone wants to go through, and the expectations for a group like ours are high for our supporters because it’s a big challenge.”

The coach framed the group as a sprint of six decisive fixtures. “Playing Al Ahly, Young Africans and Kabylie will be six high-level matches that will allow us to give our best,” he said.

“We need a really strong preparation. The first two matchdays come quickly, and we’ll treat this as a six-match mini-tournament where every game is the most important.”

Looking ahead to Matchday 1, he was clear about the opening assignment.

“The first match will be against Young Africans—preparing the team well to arrive in Tanzania and play a big game to try to win is the most important thing,” he noted. 

“Our intention is exactly that: face every match to win and be better than the opponent.”

Dos Santos also set an explicit target. “Our chance to qualify is the same as before the draw,” he argued.

“We want to reach the quarter-finals after making it through the group stage. The main objective is to take as many points as possible and finish in the top two. The possibility to reach the quarters is shared by all the teams because all have a strong Champions League history.”

From the dressing room, Tagnaouti underlined the blend of respect and readiness.

“As you all know, our group contains clubs with a lot of Champions League experience,” the goalkeeper said. 

“We are well prepared for this programme and we hope to advance to the next round. As for our chances, we will take it match by match. When the time comes for each game, we will be fully focused.”

The knockout phase begins on 13 March 2026, with USD 4m for the winners and USD 2m for the runners-up.

For AS FAR, the pathway is clear: harness Rabat’s momentum, manage daunting away days, and turn a balanced group into a springboard for the last eight.

Group B fixtures at a glance

• MD1 (21–23 Nov): Al Ahly v JS Kabylie; Young Africans v AS FAR

• MD2 (28–30 Nov): AS FAR v Al Ahly; JS Kabylie v Young Africans

• MD3 (23–25 Jan): JS Kabylie v AS FAR; Al Ahly v Young Africans

• MD4 (30 Jan–1 Feb): AS FAR v JS Kabylie; Young Africans v Al Ahly

• MD5 (6–8 Feb): JS Kabylie v Al Ahly; AS FAR v Young Africans

• MD6 (13–15 Feb): Al Ahly v AS FAR; Young Africans v JS Kabylie