CAF Champions League Draw 2025: The Stage Is Set for an African Classic
The CAF Champions League Draw 2025, held on Monday in Johannesburg, produced exciting and balanced groups that promise drama, intensity, and world-class football across the continent.
The group stage will see Africa’s top 16 clubs clash for spots in the knockout rounds — with multiple continental giants drawn together early in the campaign.
CAF Champions League 2025 Group Stage Draw
Group A:
🇲🇦 RS Berkane (Morocco) – 🇪🇬 Pyramids FC (Egypt) – 🇳🇬 Rivers United (Nigeria) – 🇿🇲 Power Dynamos (Zambia)
Group B:
🇪🇬 Al Ahly (Egypt) – 🇹🇿 Young Africans (Tanzania) – 🇲🇦 FAR Rabat (Morocco) – 🇩🇿 JS Kabylie (Algeria)
Group C:
🇿🇦 Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) – 🇸🇩 Al-Hilal (Sudan) – 🇩🇿 MC Alger (Algeria) – 🇨🇩 Saint-Étoile du Congo (DR Congo)
Group D:
🇹🇳 Esperance Tunis – 🇹🇿 Simba SC – 🇦🇴 Petro Atletico – 🇲🇱 Stade Malien
The draw ensures top-level battles between North, West, and Southern Africa’s most powerful clubs — with Group B already being dubbed “the Group of Death”.
A Tournament Steeped in African Heritage
First launched in 1964, the CAF Champions League remains the continent’s most prestigious club competition, uniting Africa’s footballing giants in pursuit of continental glory and a place in the FIFA Club World Cup.
The competition was revamped in 1997 to mirror the European Champions League format, introducing group stages and lucrative prize money — a move that revolutionized African football.
Tournament Format
The Champions League features the domestic champions and top runners-up from Africa’s best-ranked nations.
After the preliminary and qualifying rounds, 16 clubs advance to the group stage, where they are divided into four groups of four teams each.
The top two teams from each group move on to the quarterfinals, which — like the semifinals — are played over two legs.
CAF recently returned to a home-and-away final format after experimenting with a single-match final in a neutral venue.
North African Dominance
Historically, North African clubs have ruled the CAF Champions League.
Al Ahly leads the all-time charts with 12 titles, followed by rivals Zamalek, Esperance Tunis, and TP Mazembe.
Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca and Raja Casablanca have reasserted their dominance in recent years, while RS Berkane continues to rise as a new powerhouse.
From the south, Mamelodi Sundowns remains the most consistent performer, winning in 2016 and maintaining deep runs every year since.
Recent Champions
| Year | Champion | Runner-up | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Al Ahly (Egypt) | Kaizer Chiefs (South Africa) | Casablanca |
| 2022 | Wydad Casablanca (Morocco) | Al Ahly (Egypt) | Rabat |
| 2023 | Al Ahly (Egypt) | Wydad Casablanca (Morocco) | Cairo & Casablanca |
| 2024 | Pyramids FC (Egypt) | Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) | Cairo |
Egyptian clubs have lifted four of the last five trophies, underlining their dominance and depth in the competition.
Big Money, Bigger Glory
CAF has increased the Champions League prize pool significantly:
🏆 Winner: $4 million
🥈 Runner-up: $2 million
The champions also earn a ticket to the Intercontinental Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup, elevating their global profile and financial status.
Rising Competition and a Promising Future
CAF is investing heavily in improving the tournament’s quality — from VAR implementation to HD broadcasting and commercial expansion.
New contenders like Pyramids FC, MC Alger, and Young Africans are proving that Africa’s football power is spreading beyond traditional borders.
With world-class facilities, passionate fans, and elite talents, the CAF Champions League 2025 promises another thrilling chapter in the history of African football.
Team Snapshot: 2025 Season Highlights
| Club | Country | Titles | Key Player | 2025 Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Al Ahly | Egypt | 12 | Kahraba | 8W – 2D – 0L |
| Wydad | Morocco | 3 | Yahia Attiyat Allah | 6W – 3D – 1L |
| Mamelodi Sundowns | South Africa | 1 | Shalulile | 7W – 2D – 1L |
| Pyramids FC | Egypt | 1 | Ramadan Sobhi | 5W – 3D – 2L |
| Esperance Tunis | Tunisia | 4 | Ben Romdhane | 6W – 4D – 0L |
A Battle of Titans Awaits
From Cairo to Rabat, Johannesburg to Dar es Salaam, the stage is set for an unforgettable season.
The CAF Champions League isn’t just about football — it’s about national pride, legacy, and the spirit of Africa.
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