Get ready, football fans! The draw for the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League 2025/26 group stage is happening soon, and the excitement is building. South Africa's own Mamelodi Sundowns are among the top seeds, alongside African giants Al Ahly of Egypt, Esperance of Tunisia, and Renaissance Berkane of Morocco.
When and Where?
The draw ceremony will take place in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Monday, November 3rd, at 14h00 local time (12h00 GMT). Sixteen teams have made it through the preliminary rounds and are ready to battle it out for the coveted title.
The Seeded Teams
The teams are seeded based on their performance in CAF interclub competitions over the past five seasons. Here's a breakdown of the pots:
- Pot 1: Al Ahly (EGY), Mamelodi Sundowns (RSA), Esperance (TUN), RS Berkane (MAR)
- Pot 2: Simba SC (TAN), Pyramids FC (EGY), Al Hilal SC (SUD), Young Africans (TAN)
- Pot 3: Atlético Petroleos (ANG), AS FAR (MAR), MC Alger (ALG), Rivers United FC (NGA)
- Pot 4: JS Kabylie (ALG), Stade Malien (MLI), FC St Eloi Lupopo (COD), Power Dynamos (ZAM)
Newcomers and Surprises
RS Berkane's presence as a top seed is a major surprise, thanks to their success in the CAF Confederation Cup. Several teams are also making their group stage debut, including Saint-Eloi Lupopo (DR Congo), Power Dynamos (Zambia), Rivers United (Nigeria), and Stade Malien (Mali). This promises fresh energy and unpredictable matchups.
How the Draw Works
The draw will divide the 16 teams into four groups of four (Groups A-D). The first ball drawn from each pot will be placed in Group A, the second in Group B, and so on. This ensures a balanced distribution of strong and emerging teams across all groups.
Keep an eye out for the live draw on CAF's official platforms! This year's Champions League promises intense competition and thrilling football action.