Cairo delivered the Champions League and Confederation Cup groups on Wednesday 28 October. Zamalek return to the C1 and Al Ahly to the C2, both after several years away, with a fixed calendar and increased prize money.
The draw for the 2026-2027 Champions League and Confederation Cup group stages took place on Wednesday 28 October at the headquarters of the Egyptian Football Association, in 6th of October City, Cairo, according to Foot Africa. Broadcast live on CAF’s official YouTube channel, CAF TV, as well as on beIN Sports News HD and On Sport, the ceremony featured former internationals: Alain Traoré and Adama Guira (Burkina Faso), Mudathir El-Tayeb (Sudan), Oussama Darragi (Tunisia) and Achille Emana (Cameroon), according to Ahram Gate.
The draw serves up some long-awaited reunions: Zamalek mark their return to the Champions League after several years away, and Al Ahly come back to the Confederation Cup, also after a long absence, according to Goal.com. Three Egyptian clubs are involved, according to Al Khaleej: Zamalek and Pyramids in the C1, Al Ahly in the C2.
Four groups in the Champions League and the Confederation Cup
In the Champions League, Group A brings together Espérance de Tunis, Petro Atlético, Nouadhibou and Wiliete, according to Africa Soccer. Group B places Zamalek alongside Young Africans, MC Alger and Club Africain. Group C lines up RS Berkane, Simba, Orlando Pirates and Colombe Sportive, while Group D pairs Pyramids, Al Hilal, Horoya and Maghreb de Fès.
In the Confederation Cup, Group A pits Al Ahly against Raja Casablanca, ASCO de Kara and Primeiro de Agosto, according to Foot Africa. Group B comprises AS FAR, Azam, Al Ahly Tripoli and Durban City. Group C remains pending with “CR Belouizdad or la Douane”, alongside AS Maniema Union, Singida Black Stars and Red Arrows: the qualifier is not yet confirmed. Group D brings together USM Alger, CS Sfaxien, Black Bulls and Real de Bamako.
A calendar set through to January
Matchday one will be played from 27 to 29 November 2026, according to Tunisie Telegraph. Matchdays two and three will be played in December 2026, although the sources consulted do not specify the exact dates. Matchday four is set for 8 to 10 January 2027, matchday five for 15 to 17 and matchday six for 22 to 24 January 2027.
After these six matchdays, the top two in each group qualify for the quarter-finals, played over two legs, Foot Africa recalls. Before that, CAF is holding a workshop for clubs in Cairo on 29 and 30 October covering regulations, refereeing, VAR, anti-doping and security, according to Filgoal.
Increased prize money and holders in the hunt
CAF has raised the prize money to 6 million dollars for the Champions League winner and 4 million for the Confederation Cup winner, Filgoal reports. USM Alger, the reigning C2 champions, are in Group D, according to Foot Africa.
In the C1, reigning champions Mamelodi Sundowns will not be at the party: they were eliminated in the second preliminary round by Angola’s Wiliete, who qualified for Group A, according to Foot Africa. On the Egyptian side, Al Ahly qualified by seeing off Kitara (Uganda) 6-1 on aggregate, according to Al Khaleej.