The 2025/26 UEFA Champions League group stage draw has set up a number of intriguing encounters, with several African stars poised to take centre stage in Europe’s elite competition.
Achraf Hakimi and defending champions Paris Saint-Germain face a challenging path as they begin their title defence. The Moroccan full-back will feature in heavyweight clashes, with PSG set to host Bayern Munich before travelling to face Barcelona.
The French giants have also been paired with Tottenham Hotspur, where Ghanaian international Mohammed Kudus is expected to play a decisive role.
The meeting between Hakimi and Kudus promises to be one of the standout contests of the group stage.
Olympique de Marseille, featuring Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Amine Harit and Geoffrey Kondogbia, also face a demanding schedule.
Their campaign opens with a home tie against Liverpool, before a daunting trip to Madrid.
Atalanta and Ajax round out their group, ensuring a series of high-intensity fixtures for the French side as they look to progress.
Meanwhile, Borussia Dortmund and Guinean striker Sehrou Guirassy have been handed one of the toughest possible starts, with their first assignment an away match against Manchester City.
The meeting will test Dortmund’s resilience against the reigning Premier League champions and underline Guirassy’s ability to perform on Europe’s biggest stage.
The competition’s new format ensures every fixture carries weight.
The top eight teams, determined through a single league table, will qualify directly for the round of 16 and be seeded.
Clubs ranked between ninth and 24th will face an additional play-off round to secure their place in the knockout stages, while the bottom 12 will see their campaigns end at the close of the league phase.
For the African contingent, the draw highlights the growing influence of players from the continent in Europe’s most prestigious tournament.
From Hakimi’s experience with PSG to Kudus’ creativity at Tottenham, and Guirassy’s goalscoring threat for Dortmund, each will be central to their club’s ambitions.
Aubameyang and his Marseille teammates, too, will look to guide their side past a series of formidable opponents.
As anticipation builds, the Champions League promises not only historic rivalries and heavyweight encounters but also showcases the depth of African talent shaping the competition.
With the stage now set, all eyes turn to September when the continent’s brightest stars begin their pursuit of European glory.
