As holders, USM Alger have been drawn with CS Sfaxien, Black Bulls and AS Real Bamako in Group D of the Confederation Cup. CR Belouizdad, placed in Group C, are still waiting on a Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruling.
The draw for the Confederation Cup group stage was held this Wednesday, October 28, 2026, in Cairo, Al Chourouk reports. Holders USM Alger were placed in Group D alongside CS Sfaxien (Tunisia), Associação Black Bulls (Mozambique) and AS Real Bamako (Mali), according to CAF as cited by La Gazette du Fennec.
CR Belouizdad, for their part, are in Group C alongside AS Maniema Union (DR Congo), Singida Black Stars (Tanzania) and Red Arrows FC (Zambia). But the Algerian club’s place in the pool is not yet secured: their preliminary-round case is not closed.
A draw deemed manageable
On paper, Group D looks within reach of the Usmistes, who aim to defend their continental crown, La Gazette du Fennec writes.
USMA can draw on recent experience in the competition: the club won the continental title on penalties against Zamalek in the final last spring, Algerie360 recalls. The Algerians will try to keep hold of that trophy from the opening matchday of the group stage, set for November 27, 2026.
The draw was conducted by Burkina Faso’s Alain Traoré and Sudan’s Modther El Tayeb, Al Chourouk specifies. It was broadcast live on CAF TV (YouTube) as well as by beIN Sports and On Sport, according to Al Khaleej and Yallakora.
CRB waiting on the CAS ruling
Group C remains unresolved. According to La Gazette du Fennec, CR Belouizdad’s participation depends on the outcome of their preliminary-round case: the pool’s last ticket will be decided between Mauritania’s Douanes and Hafia Conakry.
The Algerian club had travelled to Mauritania for that preliminary round, but the CAS, seised by the Guinean club which contested its elimination by the Mauritanian side, ordered the match to be suspended, forcing CAF to review the case, the same source reports. A ruling is now expected to determine the last qualifier from Group C, between CRB, AS Douanes and Hafia Conakry.
In the meantime, the draw has handed the Belouizdadis, if confirmed, a trip to DR Congo to face AS Maniema Union, as well as visits to Tanzania and Zambia to take on Singida Black Stars and Red Arrows FC.
Al Ahly and Raja in the spotlight
Group A, as reported by Al Quds Al Arabi, brings together Al Ahly (Egypt), Raja Casablanca (Morocco), Asca de Kara (Togo) and Primeiro de Agosto (Angola). The Egyptians, twelve-time Champions League winners, have won the Confederation Cup only once, in 2014; Raja won it in 2018 and 2021, and the Moroccan club have gone six seasons without a continental title.
Group B, according to Al Chourouk, pits AS FAR (Morocco), Azam United (Tanzania), Al Ahly Tripoli (Libya) and Durban City (South Africa) against each other. Champions League runners-up last season, AS FAR are targeting a second title in the competition after their 2005 triumph, according to Al Quds Al Arabi.
Matchday six of the group stage is scheduled for January 22, 23 and 24, 2027.