CAF Champions League: Young Africans, MC Alger headline star-studded Group B

The 2026/27 CAF Champions League Group B draw has produced an intriguing contest featuring Egyptian giants Zamalek SC, Tanzania’s Young Africans, Algerian champions MC Alger and Tunisian outfit Club Africain.

The four clubs will battle for two quarter-final places in a group that combines continental pedigree, domestic success and ambitions of returning to the summit of African football.

Zamalek target another continental crown

Five-time African champions Zamalek return to the Champions League group stage after a three-season absence, determined to re-establish themselves among the continent’s elite.

The Egyptian giants last won the competition in 2002 and will be making their 14th appearance in the modern group-stage era. Their experience and history make them an important contender in a competitive section.

Zamalek secured qualification after winning all four matches in their preliminary-round campaign, giving them momentum ahead of the group-stage challenge.

Young Africans eye another deep run

Tanzanian champions Young Africans will be looking to build on their recent progress in continental football.

The Dar es Salaam-based club reached the Champions League quarter-finals in 2024/25 and have established themselves as regular participants at this stage of the competition.

Young Africans booked their place in the group stage with an emphatic 8-1 aggregate victory over Madagascar’s CFFA. They will hope their attacking strength can help them challenge Zamalek and the other teams for a place in the knockout rounds.

MC Alger and Club Africain add quality

Algerian side MC Alger enter the competition with ambitions of winning their first continental title since lifting the African Cup of Champions Clubs in 1976.

They produced a remarkable comeback in the final qualifying round, overturning a 2-0 first-leg deficit against Nigeria’s Rangers International to progress 3-2 on aggregate.

Meanwhile, Tunisia’s Club Africain return to the group stage for the first time since 2018/19 after eliminating DR Congo’s TP Mazembe 2-1 on aggregate.

The Tunisian club will be eager to translate their domestic success into a strong continental campaign.

Group-stage schedule confirmed

The opening round of fixtures will take place from 27 to 29 November.

Matchday two is scheduled for 4-6 December, before the teams return for the third round from 18 to 20 December.

The group-stage campaign resumes in the new year, with matchday four scheduled for 8-10 January, followed by matchday five from 15 to 17 January.

The final round of group-stage matches will be played from 22 to 24 January, when the two teams progressing from Group B will be confirmed.