Zakaria Naidji of MC Alger celebrates goal during the CAF Champions League 2025/26 match between MC Alger and St Eloi Lupopo at Ali la Pointe Stadium in Douera , Algeria on 1 February 2026 ©Atmane Lahouel/BackpagePix
Friday Feb 06, 2026. 11:11
With just two rounds remaining in the group stages, many teams are still scrambling to secure their place in the CAF Champions League quarter-finals.
Group C is compleletly open as any of the four clubs could potentially qualify for the knockout stages and the matchday 5 action gets underway on Friday when MC Alger host Al Hilal at the Ali La Pointe Stadium (Algiers).
The Blue Wave lead the way on eight points after they beat Mamelodi Sundowns 2-1 on January 30 to maintain their unbeaten start in the group stages, while El Mouloudia are just one point behind the Brazilians in third position, having claimed a 2-0 victory over Saint-Eloi Lupopo on February 1.
Sundowns will likely have to settle for the runners-up spot and they will be looking to bounce back against Saint-Eloi Lupopo at the Stade TP Mazembe (Lubumbashi) on Sunday.
Bafana Ba Style’s unbeaten record came to an end on matchday 4 and they’re level with the Railmen on four points, but with a much better goal difference.
Group A is just about wrapped up and RS Berkane will be determined to return to winning ways when they face Power Dynamos at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium (Ndola) on Saturday.
The Orange Boys were knocked off top spot by Pyramids, who comprehensively beat them 3-0 on February 1 to go three points clear as Aba Yellow kept their slim hopes alive with a 1-0 success against Rivers United to close within three of Mouin Chaabani’s side in third place.
Meanwhile, the defending champions take on Rivers United at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium (Uyo) on Sunday looking to maintain their unbeaten record in the group stages.
Group B is far from done and dusted as Al Ahly look to put one foot in the knockout stages when they travel to Tizi Ouzou for a clash with JS Kabylie at the Hocine Aït Ahmed Stadium on Saturday.
The Red Eagles remain at the summit after they played out to a 1-1 with Young Africans on January 31, while the Canaries suffered their second defeat with a 1-0 reverse to AS FAR to all but end their chances of progressing to the last eight.
Young Africans will attempt to keep the pressure on the group leaders when they lock horns with AS FAR at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium (Rabat) on Saturday.
Yanga and Al-Zaeem are tied on five points, but Pedro Goncalves’ side occupy the runners-up spot after beating the Moroccan club 1-0 on matchday 2.
It’s a similar scenario in Group D, with Stade Malien and ES Tunis vying for pole position as they meet at the Stade du 26 Mars (Bamako) on Sunday.
Les Blancs maintained their two-point lead over the Blood and Gold despite being held to 0-0 draw by Petro de Luanda on January 31 as Maher Kanzari’s side also had to settle for the share of the spoils after they drew 2-2 against Simba.
Petro de Luanda will be looking to upset the applecart when they entertain winless Simba at the Estadio 11 de Novembro (Luanda) on Saturday.
The Tricolores find themselves just one point behind ES Tunis in third position and could leapfrog them if results go their way this weekend. The Reds of Msimbazi have little hope of advancing as they’ve picked up a solitary point from their opening four matches.
CAF Champions League matchday 5 fixtures:
Friday, February 6
21h00: MC Alger v Al Hilal
Saturday, February 7
15h00: Power Dynamos v RS Berkane
18h00: Petro de Luanda v Simba
21h00: AS FAR v Young Africans
21h00: JS Kabylie v Al Ahly
Sunday, February 8
15h00: Saint-Eloi Lupopo v Mamelodi Sundowns
18h00: Rivers United v Pyramids
18h00: Stade Malien v ES Tunis