2025-26 CAF Group Stage Analysis

A full round of PSL action did not disappoint, with goals, own goals, red cards, missed penalties, late goals on show this past weekend. In the end, Sundowns retained their position at the top of the table, while Sekhukhune and Pirates missed their opportunity. There were good wins for Kaizer Chiefs, Golden Arrows, TS Galaxy and AmaZulu, and important ones for Orbit College and Siwelele, who both steered clear of the danger zone. Winners & Losers is a statistical review of the weekend action.

CAF Champions League

Group A features the reigning Champions League winners, Pyramids FC, and the reigning Confederation Cup winner, RS Berkane, who last month faced off in the CAF Super Cup. Both cup winners will be expected to qualify from the group ahead of Rivers United (Nigeria) and Power Dynamos FC (Zambia), who will look to cause an upset.  Group B is arguably the ‘group of death’ and one where away results will be crucial. Al Ahly, 12-time winners from Egypt, are expected to advance, yet AS FAR from Morocco, Tanzania’s Young Africans, and Algeria’s JS Kabylie will fight them for the two qualification spots. Group C features four-time champions Esperance de Tunis as well as Tanzania’s Simba SC –  generally seen as one of the stronger East African contenders. Both should have enough to get past Angola’s Petro de Luanda and Stade Malien of Mali who will look to spoil the party.

1 – Based on Opta Power Rankings, Pyramids are the highest-ranked team on the continent, with

TOP 5 RANKED AFRICAN TEAMS  (Opta Power Rankings)
Rank	Team	Country	Group
1	Pyramids	Egypt	A
2	Al Ahly	Egypt	B
3	AS FAR Rabat	Morocco	B
4	RSB Berkane	Morocco	A
5	Mamelodi Sundowns	South Africa	D

SA representatives: Sundowns in Group D

Mamelodi Sundowns are South Africa’s only representatives in this year’s CAF Champions League, and will be clear favourites to qualify from this group. Their closest threat will be MC Alger (now coached by one of Sundowns’ previous coaches – Rulani Mokwena). Downs have played Al Hilal (Sudan) eight times over the years winning five matches, drawing two and losing one.  While MC Alger, in theory, is expected to have the edge over the Sudanese side, and the Congolese club St Eloi Lupopo.

4 – This will be the 4th time Sundowns are drawn in the same group as Al-Hilal in the Group stages of the CAF Champions League, making the Sudanese their most common opponent at this stage.

CAF Confederation Cup

Several top African clubs, including Egyptian giants Zamalek and Moroccan powerhouse Wydad Casablanca, discovered their 2025/26 CAF Confederations Cup group stage opponents on Monday. Lastly, Group A will see USM Alger of Algeria take on Djoliba Bamako of Mali, Morocco’s OC Safi, and Ivory Coast club San Pedro for a spot in the knockout stages.

SA representatives: Kaizer Chiefs in Group D

Kaizer Chiefs return to continental club football for the first-time since their Champions League final loss to Al Ahly in June 2021. The Amakhosi have been drawn into Group D against two Egyptian sides (Zamalek and Al Masry) as well as ZESCO United from Zambia. This will be a tough challenge for Chiefs as they look to qualify for the knockout stages of the competition. Historically they have struggled against Egyptian sides.

1 – Kaizer Chiefs have won just one of their previous six games against Egyptian opposition (P1 W1 D2 L3 against Zamalek, Ismaily and Al Ahly).

SA representatives: Stellenbosch in Group C

The other South African side is Stellenbosch FC who have been drawn into Group C along with CR Belouizdad of Algeria, plus AS Otoho from Congo and Singida Black Stars of Tanzania. CR Belouizdad should comfortably advance from the group with a second spot up for grabs between the other three.

Other South African influences

Elsewhere, Group B features Thembinkosi Lorch’s Wydad Casablanca, who should comfortably advance against DR Congo’s AS Maniema Union, Tanzanian side Azam FC, and Kenya’s relative newcomers, Nairobi United. Former Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena has been interestingly drawn to face his former side in the Champions League. Furthermore, former Orlando Pirates coach Josef Zinnbauer (now head coach at Algerian side JS Kabylie) will also be involved in the aforementioned Group of Death Group B.