Everything you need to know about the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup
The 2025/26 TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup group stage brings together 16 elite sides.
Headlining the group stage line up includes two-time champions, Zamalek as well as former African champions Wydad AC who are yearning for continental silverware.
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: USM Alger (Algeria), Djoliba AC de Bamako (Mali), Olympique Club de Safi (Morocco), FC San Pedro (Cote d’Ivoire)
GROUP B: Wydad Casablanca (Morocco), AS Maniema (DR Congo), Azam FC (Tanzania), Nairobi United (Kenya)
GROUP C: CR Belouizdad (Algeria), Stellenbosch FC (South Africa), AS Otoho (Congo), Singida Black Stars (Tanzania)
GROUP D: Zamalek (Egypt), Al Masry (Egypt), Kaizer Chiefs (South Africa), ZESCO United (Zambia)
Group stage format explained
- 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
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. 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 58 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 USD 2 000 000
- Runners-up: USD USD 1 000 000(Additional stage payments follow CAF’s official distribution; the above are the headline totals for finalists.)
Defending champions & record holders
Defending champions: RS Berkane (Morocco) – The Moroccan giants will not be defending their title this season as they are playing in the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League. They currently have three TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup titles to their name alongside Raja Casablanca and JS Kabylie. CS Sfaxien (Tunisia) and Etoile du Sahel have the most titles in the competition as they have been won the trophy four times each.
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 on Sunday, 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?
Defending champions RS Berkane will not be playing in the competition making way for others to step into their shoes. It will not be an easy journey as Egyptian powerhouse, Zamalek will have to fend off strong competition from Wydad AC, Zesco United (Zambia) as well as CR Belouizdad (Algeria).
Is there a new trophy?
CAF has launched a new interclub visual identity for the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup this season. The new trophy presentations and event dressing will reflect the refreshed brand look throughout the campaign.