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Everything you need to know about the 2025/26 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League

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Africa’s biggest club competition is back — and this season looks box-office.

The 2025/26 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League group stage brings together 16 elite sides, seven former African champions and the reigning title-holders, in a group stage that kicks off this weekend before a blockbuster knockout run in 2026.

Below is your complete, guide: key dates, format, groups, prize money, storylines, broadcast info and more.

Key dates at a glance (Group Stage & beyond)

  • Matchday 1: 21–23 November 2025
  • Matchday 2: 28–30 November 2025
  • Tournament pause: during the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Morocco 2025
  • Matchday 3: 23–25 January 2026
  • Matchday 4: 30 Jan – 01 Feb 2026
  • Matchday 5: 06–08 February 2026
  • Matchday 6: 13–15 February 2026
  • Knockout phase starts: 13 March 2026

Who’s in the Group Stage?

A star-studded field was confirmed after the draw in Johannesburg. Here’s how the 16 clubs line up:

Group A
RS Berkane (Morocco), Pyramids FC (Egypt, defending champions), Rivers United (Nigeria), Power Dynamos (Zambia)

Group B
Al Ahly (Egypt, record 12-time winners), Young Africans (Tanzania), AS FAR (Morocco), JS Kabylie (Algeria)

Group C
Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa), Al Hilal (Sudan), MC Alger (Algeria), St Éloi Lupopo (DR Congo)

Group D
Espérance de Tunis (Tunisia), Simba SC (Tanzania), Petro de Luanda (Angola), Stade Malien (Mali)

Format explained (simple)

  • 16 teams, 4 groups of 4.
  • Home & away round-robin (six games each).
  • Top two per group advance to the quarter-finals.
  • From the quarters onwards it’s two-legged knockouts leading to the final
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What’s new this season?

A refreshed interclub brand: The Heartbeat of African Football

CAF has unveiled a bold new visual identity for its interclub competitions (Champions League and Confederation Cup). Built around the Heartbeat Wave, it channels the rhythm of African football:

  • PEAK for clubs’ moments of triumph,
  • FLOW for the movement of players and the game, and
  • REPETITION for the drumbeat and chants of the fans.
    Expect the new look across broadcast, digital and event platforms throughout the campaign.



Record participation & added support in qualifying

The road to the groups featured a record 62 clubs in the Preliminary Rounds. To help teams shoulder travel and logistics, CAF introduced a financial measure: clubs eliminated in the first two preliminary rounds receive USD 100,000.

Prize money

  • Champions: USD 4,000,000
  • Runners-up: USD 2,000,000
    (Additional stage payments follow CAF’s official distribution; the above are the headline totals for finalists.)




Defending champions & record holders

  • Defending champions: Pyramids FC (Egypt) — back to defend their crown and drawn with RS Berkane in a much-anticipated reunion after Pyramids edged the Moroccan giants in the recent CAF Super Cup.
  • Record title holders: Al Ahly (Egypt) with 12 CAF Champions League titles, anchoring a heavyweight Group B that also includes Young Africans, AS FAR and JS Kabylie.

How to watch

Games are carried by CAF’s official broadcast partners across Africa and internationally. Follow CAF Digital for behind-the-scenes content, and catch highlights on CAF TV (YouTube) after each matchday.

Quick FAQ

When does the group stage start and stop?
It starts 21–23 November 2025, plays two rounds, pauses for AFCON 2025, and resumes 23–25 January 2026 through mid-February.

How many qualify from each group?
The top two.

When do knockouts begin?
13 March 2026.

Who are the biggest favourites?
Historic giants Al Ahly and Espérance, modern powerhouses Mamelodi Sundowns and Pyramids, and dark horses like RS Berkane, Petro de Luanda, AS FAR and Simba.

Is there a new trophy?
CAF has launched a new interclub visual identity for the Champions League and Confederation Cup this season. Trophy presentations and event dressing will reflect the refreshed brand look throughout the campaign.

Why this edition feels special

A record qualifying field, a refreshed brand that spotlights the pulse of African football, and a group stage stacked with serial winners and surging challengers make 2025/26 feel like a “greatest hits” season.

Add the mid-season AFCON pause — which often resets momentum — and we’re set for a dramatic run-in to March.