Holders Pyramids tested as Ahly, Sundowns and Espérance chase perfect Group Stage starts
Africa’s blue-riband club competition returns this weekend with a blockbuster Matchday 1: holders Pyramids host Rivers United, Al Ahly welcome JS Kabylie, Mamelodi Sundowns meet giant-killers St Éloi Lupopo, while Al-Hilal face MC Alger and Espérance launch against Stade Malien.
The opening round will set the tone before the competition pauses for AFCON in December/January.
Pyramids v Rivers United headlines Group A in Cairo. Krunoslav Jurčić’s side arrive buoyed by a Super Cup win and a rising spine built around goalkeeper Ahmed El-Shenawy, Walid El Karti and striker Fiston Mayele.
They’ll be without Ramadan Sobhi, Osama Galal and Mostafa Fathi, but expectation remains high after last season’s title. Rivers make the trip with defensive sting and renewed attacking intent.
“I’m quite happy that we have scored two; maybe by the next game, we can score three… Let’s take it one game at a time. We just have to enjoy this now and focus on Pyramids,” said coach Finidi George after a morale-lifting league win.
In the group’s other tie, RS Berkane— TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup kings turned Botola champions—host Zambia’s Power Dynamos in a reunion pool that also revives their fresh rivalry with Pyramids later in the round-robin.
Group B looks the toughest on paper. Record 12-time winners Al Ahly open at home to JS Kabylie in Cairo.
Jess Thorup’s Ahly—recent Egyptian Super Cup winners—lean on star arrivals like Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane and the experience of Ashraf Bencharki and Taher Mohamed, though fitness clouds hover over Ahmed “Zizo” Mostafa and Mahmoud “Trezeguet” Hassan, with Hussein El-Shahat and Achraf Dari sidelined.
Josef Zinnbauer’s JSK travel with menace through Aymen Mahious and Zinedine Belaïd.
The section’s other duel sends AS FAR to Dar es Salaam to face Young Africans in a meeting of recent continental finalists and quarter-finalists; Yanga’s intensity under Pedro Gonçalves makes this a genuine 50–50.
There is sub-plot galore in Group C. Al-Hilal (home in Kigali) meet MC Alger in a coaching storyline rich with intrigue: Rulani Mokwena, once the face of Sundowns’ rise, now leads league-leading MCA and seeks a statement result against a fellow North African heavyweight.
Hilal counter with veteran Mohamed Abdelrahman and Mauritania international Guessouma Fofana.
On Saturday in Pretoria, Sundowns begin against St Éloi Lupopo—the Congolese side that stunned Orlando Pirates in qualifying.
“We need a clear focus on winning competitions… we’ll be loyal to ourselves… the next match is the most important match of our lives,” said Downs boss Miguel Cardoso, pushing back on talk of “obsession” while embracing the pressure to finally add a second star.
Group D opens with continental pedigree. Four-time champions Espérance host Stade Malien in Tunis.
EST absorb a cruel blow with Youcef Belaïli’s ACL injury but retain quality through Houssem Tka, Mohamed Amine Ben Hamida and Algerian livewire Wassila Boualia, with veteran Youcef Msakni drafted back to steady the front line.
In the group’s parallel tie, Simba entertain Petro de Luanda in a clash of high-tempo sides whose ambitions stretch well beyond the groups.
MATCHDAY 1 FIXTURES (All times GMT)
TotalEnergies CAF Champions League
Friday, 21 November
13:00 — Al-Hilal Omdurman (SUD) vs MC Alger (ALG)
Saturday, 22 November
13:00 — Mamelodi Sundowns (RSA) vs St Éloi Lupopo (DRC)
13:00 — Young Africans (TAN) vs AS FAR Rabat (MAR)
16:00 — Al Ahly (EGY) vs JS Kabylie (ALG)
16:00 — Espérance Tunis (TUN) vs Stade Malien (MLI)
19:00 — RS Berkane (MAR) vs Power Dynamos (ZAM)
19:00 — Pyramids (EGY) vs Rivers United (NGA)
Sunday, 23 November
13:00 — Simba (TAN) vs Petro Atlético (ANG)