Africa’s premier club competitions roar back this weekend with the start of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League and TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup. The continent’s elite clubs chase early momentum before the break for AFCON 2025.
Champions League giants step in with intent. Defending champions Pyramids FC, record winners Al Ahly, four-time kings Espérance de Tunis, Mamelodi Sundowns, RS Berkane, and AS FAR headline a loaded field. Rising challengers from every CAF zone add fresh intrigue.
The Confederation Cup offers its own fireworks. Former winners Zamalek and USM Alger lead a gripping lineup featuring Wydad, CR Belouizdad, Kaizer Chiefs, Stellenbosch, Azam, ZESCO United, and debutants Nairobi United.
Opening night delivers instant drama. Pyramids host Rivers United in Cairo. RS Berkane square off with Power Dynamos in a North–South showdown bursting with plotlines.
Al Ahly chase a 13th title and open against JS Kabylie. Espérance welcome Stade Malien, and Sundowns test their form against St Éloi Lupopo.
The Confederation Cup heats up with regional flavour. An Egyptian derby group sparks early tension as Zamalek face ZESCO United and Al Masry meet Kaizer Chiefs. Debutants chase their moment, with Nairobi United travelling to Wydad and Maniema Union clashing with Azam in an East–Central Africa battle.
CAF will stage two matchdays before AFCON begins. The group stage resumes in January 2026.
MATCHDAY 1 FIXTURES (GMT)
CAF Champions League
Friday, 21 November
13:00 — Al-Hilal Omdurman vs MC Alger
Saturday, 22 November
13:00 — Mamelodi Sundowns vs St Éloi Lupopo
13:00 — Young Africans vs AS FAR
16:00 — Al Ahly vs JS Kabylie
16:00 — Espérance vs Stade Malien
19:00 — RS Berkane vs Power Dynamos
19:00 — Pyramids vs Rivers United
Sunday, 23 November
13:00 — Simba vs Petro Atlético
CAF Confederation Cup
Saturday, 22 November
19:00 — CR Belouizdad vs Singida Black Stars
Sunday, 23 November
13:00 — Maniema vs Azam
13:00 — Stellenbosch vs AS Otoho
16:00 — Al Masry vs Kaizer Chiefs
16:00 — Djoliba vs OC Safi
19:00 — USM Alger vs San Pedro
19:00 — Wydad vs Nairobi United
19:00 — Zamalek vs ZESCO United
