African football followers are counting down to the quarter-final draw ceremonies of the continent’s two major inter-club competitions, the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup, for the 2025/2026 season.
With the road to the semi-finals at stake, anticipation is high, especially with Moroccan clubs maintaining a flawless group-stage run and Arab teams dominating the latter stages of both tournaments.
The Confederation Cup draw is scheduled for 11:00 AM Moroccan time, corresponding with 2:00 PM in Mecca, while the Champions League draw will follow an hour later at 12:00 PM Moroccan time and 3:00 PM Mecca time. Fans across the continent will be able to follow the ceremonies live on beIN SPORTS News, with additional coverage available via the official YouTube platform of the Confederation of African Football, CAF TV.
The Champions League quarter-final line-up reflects the growing strength of Arab clubs in Africa. Moroccan duo Royal Army and Renaissance Berkane headline the North African charge alongside Egyptian heavyweights Al Ahly and Pyramids FC, Tunisian giants Esperance, South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns, Mali’s Stade Malien and Sudanese side Al Hilal. Tournament regulations prevent teams from the same group from meeting at this stage, while group winners are guaranteed to play the decisive second leg on home soil, adding a tactical edge to the draw.
Based on the seeding, Raja Casablanca are set to meet one of Pyramids FC, Al Hilal or Stade Malien, while RS Berkane could be paired against Al Ahly, Al Hilal or Stade Malien, depending on how the balls fall. Each pairing is expected to offer a stern test as clubs balance ambition with the need to avoid an early heavyweight showdown.
Attention is equally intense in the Confederation Cup, where North African sides have claimed the maximum number of quarter-final slots. Moroccan representatives Wydad Casablanca and Olympique Safi are joined by Egypt’s Zamalek and Al Masry, as well as Algerian outfits USM Alger and CR Belouizdad, underlining the region’s influence in the competition.
Wydad, having topped their group, will be drawn against a runner-up, with potential opponents including Olympique Safi, Al Masry of Port Said or Otoho of Congo. Olympique Safi, who progressed as group runners-up, face a tougher path and could be matched with one of the group leaders, notably Wydad Casablanca, Zamalek or CR Belouizdad.
With hopes of continental glory on one hand and the desire to avoid premature eliminations on the other, the upcoming draws are expected to produce high-stakes encounters that could feel like finals long before the trophy is in sight. All eyes will be on CAF headquarters as the continental roadmap is finally revealed in what promises to be one of the most compelling editions in recent memory.
