during the CAF Champions League 2025/26 Mamelodi Sundowns training at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria on 22 January 2026 ©Phakamisa Lensman/BackpagePix
Friday Jan 23, 2026. 11:00
The CAF Champions League group stages is back after the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations break, with defending champions Pyramids taking on RS Berkane and Al Ahly face Young Africans.
The action kicks off on Friday with record 12-time champions Al Ahly hosting Young Africans at the Cairo International Stadium.
Both teams are unbeaten after two rounds; the Red Eagles drew 1-1 with AS FAR last time out and Yanga were held to a goalless stalemate by JS Kabylie.
A couple of hours later, Group C leaders Mamelodi Sundowns entertain Al Hilal at Loftus Versfeld as they look to maintain their unbeaten start in the competition proper.
The Brazilians played out to a 0-0 draw with MC Alger most recently, while the Blue Wave squandered an early lead to draw 1-1 against Saint-Eloi Lupopo.
In the early kick-off on Saturday, Power Dynamos and Rivers United go head-to-head at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium with neither team having put any points on the board to date.
The Aba Yellow suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to Pyramids on matchday 2 and the Pride of Rivers conceded two late goals to lose 2-1 to RS Berkane.
Then ES Tunis will go in search of their first win in Group D when they lock horns with Simba at the Hammadi Agrebi Stadium in the early evening.
The Blood and Gold picked up a second successive point with a 1-1 draw against Petro de Luanda in the last outing and Reds of Msimbazi’s struggles continued after they were beaten 2-1 by Stade Malien.
In a concurrent match taking place at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, AS FAR will be looking to get their Group B campaign up and running against JS Kabylie.
Al-Zaeem claimed a precious point in a 1-1 draw with Al Ahly last time out after losing 1-0 to Young Africans in their group opener. JSK also did well to hold Young Africans to a 0-0 stalemate following a 4-1 defeat to the Red Eagles on matchday 1.
Saturday’s fixtures conclude with a bumper match-up between RS Berkane and Pyramids at the Berkane Municipal Stadium.
Both clubs have perfect records in Group A, with the Orange Boys registering back-to-back wins against Power Dynamos (3-0) and Rivers United (2-1), while Pyramids defeated the Pride of Rivers (3-0) and the Aba Yellow (1-0).
In the first of two games scheduled on Sunday, MC Alger will be looking to keep their hopes alive in Group C when they travel to the Stade TP Mazembe for a clash with Saint-Eloi Lupopo.
El Mouloudia winless start continued with goalless draw against Sundowns most recently and the Railmen also collected their first point at home to Al Hilal.
Two teams fighting for top spot in Group D sees Stade Malien welcome Petro de Luanda to the Stade du 26 Mars.
The Whites are still unbeaten after they ran out surprise 2-1 victors over Simba on matchday 2 as the Tricolores were denied a second consecutive win when ES Tunis scored a last-minute equaliser.
CAF Champions League fixtures:
Friday, January, 23
18h00: Al Ahly v Young Africans
20h00: Mamelodi Sundowns v Al Hilal
Saturday, January 24
15h00: Power Dynamos v Rivers United
18h00: ES Tunis v Simba
18h00: JS Kabylie v AS FAR
21h00: RS Berkane v Pyramids
Sunday, January 25
18h00: Saint-Eloi Lupopo v MC Alger
18h00: Stade Malien v Petro de Luanda