Mamelodi Sundowns out as CAF Champions League group-stage line-up is confirmed

Mamelodi Sundowns have been eliminated from the CAF Champions League, with 16 clubs now confirmed for the group stage after this weekend’s second-round ties.

The defending champions suffered a shock 1-1 aggregate defeat by Angola’s Wiliete SC, who advanced on the away-goal rule. Orlando Pirates will instead represent South Africa in the group stage after completing a 5-0 aggregate victory over African Stars.

It means South Africa will have only one team in the group stage for the second successive year, although the identity of its representative has changed from last season.

Two clubs from each of Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia and Tanzania have qualified. Former champions Pyramids FC, Esperance, Zamalek SC and MC Alger are among the teams to progress.

The full list of group-stage qualifiers is:

– Al Hilal Omdurman (Sudan) – Club Africain (Tunisia) – Colombe Sportive (Cameroon) – Esperance (Tunisia) – FC Nouadhibou (Mauritania) – Horoya AC (Guinea) – MAS de Fes (Morocco) – MC Alger (Algeria) – Orlando Pirates (South Africa) – Petro Atletico (Angola) – Pyramids FC (Egypt) – RS Berkane (Morocco) – Simba SC (Tanzania) – Wiliete SC (Angola) – Young Africans (Tanzania) – Zamalek SC (Egypt)

The Confederation of African Football has confirmed that the group-stage draw will be held at the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) Headquarters in Cairo on Wednesday, 28 October 2026.

It will begin at 15h00 local time, which is 14h00 SAST.

The 16 clubs will be divided into four groups of four, with the group stage scheduled to start in November. The top two teams in each section will qualify for the quarter-finals.

The winners of this season’s CAF Champions League will receive a record prize of USD 6 million (R100 million).

The CAF Confederation Cup group-stage draw will also take place on Wednesday at the EFA Headquarters. That draw is scheduled for 14h00 local time (13h00 SAST).

Durban City have qualified for the Confederation Cup group stage, while Kaizer Chiefs were eliminated in the preliminary rounds by Zambian club Red Arrows on penalties.

South African coaches Steve Barker and Manqoba Mngqithi both reached the CAF Champions League group stage with Tanzanian clubs. Barker progressed with Simba SC, while Mngqithi qualified with Young Africans.

Mngqithi was nevertheless dismissed after Young Africans fell five points behind their rivals in the league.