CAF Champions League: Pyramids, Zamalek and Al Ahly learn group-stage opponents

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed the group-stage fixtures for the 2026-27 CAF Champions League, with defending ambitions and continental bragging rights at stake as clubs prepare for a demanding campaign.

Egyptian sides Pyramids FC and Zamalek have been drawn into Groups D and B respectively, while Sudanese giants Al Hilal will compete in Group D.

Pyramids will face Al Hilal, Guinea’s Horoya AC and Morocco’s MAS de Fès in Group D, setting up a competitive contest for places in the knockout stage.

Zamalek, meanwhile, have been drawn alongside Young Africans of Tanzania, Algeria’s MC Alger and Tunisia’s Club Africain in Group B.

Group A features Tunisia’s Espérance Sportive de Tunis, Angola’s Atlético Petróleos de Luanda, FC Nouadhibou of Mauritania and Angola’s Wiliete SC.

Morocco’s RS Berkane headline Group C, where they will face Tanzania’s Simba SC, South Africa’s Orlando Pirates and Cameroon’s Colombe Sportive.

A demanding schedule ahead

The group stage will begin in late November 2026, with the opening round scheduled for 27-29 November.

Matchday Two will take place from 4-6 December, before the competition pauses briefly and resumes with the third round from 18-20 December.

The final three rounds are scheduled for January 2027, with matches taking place from 8-10 January, 15-17 January and 22-24 January.

The six-match format will leave little room for error, with consistency likely to prove decisive as teams compete to secure progression to the knockout rounds.

VAR to be used in both competitions

CAF has also confirmed that video assistant referee (VAR) technology will be used throughout the group stages of both the Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup.

The move will bring VAR into the group-stage matches of Africa’s leading club competitions, providing match officials with additional assistance when reviewing key decisions.

The Champions League remains the continent’s premier club competition, with participating teams seeking to establish themselves among Africa’s elite.

With the groups and schedule confirmed, clubs can now intensify preparations for a demanding run of continental fixtures across November, December and January.