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CAF Champions League

BATTLE FOR SUPREMACY BY TWO NORTH AFRICAN GIANTS

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BY KUNLE SOLAJA.nn nnThis year’s CAF Champions League final presents a unique setting, as it is a repeat of 2012 edition. Egypt’s Al Ahly take on Tunisia’s Esperance in the first leg match on Friday.nn nnIt is a battle of two of Africa’s oldest club-sides. Al Ahly was founded in 1907 while Esperance had its seeds sowed in 1919.nn nnAl Ahly, easily the most successful African club as well as the most fanatically supported won the 2012 keenly contested final battles.nn nnWill they do it again this year? The confrontations of both teams litter the record books of African football. Across all African clubs’ competitions in the past 28 years, both teams have met 18 times with victories tilting more to Al Ahly.nn nnEven this year, they met twice in the group stage. Esperance held Al Ahly to a scoreless draw in Alexandria only to succumb to a lone goal defeat at home in Rades. Thanks to the 32nd minute strike by Al Ahly’s Walid Azaro.nn nnAL AHLY –ESPERANCE HEAD-TO-HEADnn nn1990 CAF Champions League – 1/8th finalsnnTunis                                     Esperance 0-0 AhlynnCairo                                     Ahly 0-0* Esperancenn*Esperance won 4-2 on penalty shootoutnn nn2001 CAF Champions League – Semifinalnn04.11.2001    Cairo            Ahly 0-0 Esperancenn17.11.2001    Tunis             Esperance 1-1 Ahly (Edilton Perreira 2’/ Sayed Abdel Hafeez 83′)nn nn2007 CAF Champions League – Group stagenn20.07.2007    Cairo             Ahly 3-0 Esperance (Mohamed Abu Treika 12′, Flavio Amado 77′, Ossama Hosny 85′)nn04.08.2007    Rades            Esperance 1-0 Ahly (Salama Kasdaoui 38′)nn nn2010 CAF Champions League – Semifinalnn03.10.2010    Cairo             Ahly 2-1 Esperance (Mohamed Fadl 38′, Ahmed Fathy 68′ / Oussama Darragi 72′)nn17.10.2010    Rades            Esperance 1-0 Ahly (Michael Eneramo 1′)nn nn2011 CAF Champions League – Group stagenn30.07.2011    Rades            Esperance 1-0 Ahly (Yannick N’Djeng 14′)nn16.09.2011    Cairo             Ahly 1-1 Esperance (Mohamed Abu Treika 54′ / Yaya Banana 17′)nn nn2012 CAF Champions League – Finalnn04.11.2012    Alexandria     Ahly 1-1 Esperance (Elsayed Hamdy 88′ / Walid Hichri 49′)nn17.11.2012    Rades            Esperance 1-2 Ahly (Yannick N’Djeng 85′ / Mohamed Nagy “Geddo” 43′, Waleed Suleiman 63′)nn nn2015 CAF Confederation Cup – Group stagenn28.06.2015    Suez             Ahly 3-0 Esperance (Abdullah Elsaid 20′, Abdullah Elsaid 58′, Moamen Zakaria 90′)nn22.08.2015    Rades            Esperance 0-1 Ahly (John Antwi 5′)nn nn2017 CAF Champions League – Quarterfinalnn16.09.2017    Alexandria     Ahly 2-2 Esperance (Abdullah Elsaid 11′, Walid Azaro 67′ / Taha Yassine Khenissi 21′, Ghilane Chaalali 48′)nn23.09.2017    Cairo             Esperance 1-2 Ahly (Taha Yassine Khenissi 40′ / Ali Maaloul 50′, Junior Ajayi 62′)nn nn2018 CAF Champions League – Group stagenn04.05.2018    Alexandria     Ahly 0-0 Esperancenn17.08.2018    Rades            Esperance 0-1 Ahly (Walid Azaro 32′)nn nn nn 

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CAF Confederation Cup

Africa’s Elite Clubs Await Fate as CAF Stages Quarter-final Draws

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The Confederation of African Football (CAF) will conduct the quarter-final draws for the 2025/26 editions of its two flagship interclub competitions — the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup — on Tuesday, 17 February 2026, at the headquarters of the Egyptian Football Association in Cairo.

The CAF Confederation Cup quarter-final draw is scheduled to begin at 13:00 Cairo time (11:00 GMT), followed by the CAF Champions League quarter-final draw at 14:00 Cairo time (12:00 GMT).

The ceremonies will be broadcast live on CAF’s official YouTube platform, CAF TV, allowing fans across the continent and beyond to follow proceedings in real time.

Road to the Finals Takes Shape

The draws will determine not only the quarter-final pairings but also the pathway to the finals in both competitions, effectively mapping out the remaining knockout journey for Africa’s elite clubs.

With the group stages concluded, the quarter-finals mark the beginning of direct elimination football — a phase traditionally defined by tactical discipline, squad depth and mental resilience. Clubs will be keenly watching the draw to gauge potential heavyweight clashes or favourable routes to the semi-finals.

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In the Champions League, former title holders and emerging contenders alike will be hoping to avoid early confrontations against continental heavyweights. Similarly, in the Confederation Cup, where competitive balance has grown in recent seasons, the draw could produce intriguing North-South or West-East showdowns.

Strategic Importance for Clubs

Beyond sporting prestige, progression to the latter stages of CAF competitions carries significant financial incentives, enhanced continental ranking points and increased global visibility. With African club football enjoying expanded broadcast reach and commercial partnerships, success in these tournaments has become both a sporting and economic objective.

Hosting the draws at the Egyptian FA headquarters in Cairo reinforces the city’s status as a nerve centre of African football administration, as clubs await clarity on their next assignments in what promises to be a decisive knockout phase of the 2025/26 campaign.

All eyes will now turn to Cairo as Africa’s road to continental glory becomes clearer.

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CAF Champions League

How RS Berkane Cruised Past Rivers United to Seal Knockout Berth

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Moroccan side RS Berkane delivered a commanding 3–0 victory over Rivers United FC to book their place in the knockout stages of the competition.

Berkane imposed themselves early and broke the deadlock in the 35th minute when Youssef Mehri fired into the bottom corner following a swift attacking move.

The hosts doubled their lead seven minutes later as Paul Valère Bassène finished clinically after being played through by Mounir Chouiar, leaving Rivers United with a mountain to climb before halftime.

The contest was effectively settled eight minutes into the second half. Bassène grabbed his second of the night in the 53rd minute, converting from close range after a corner to put the result beyond doubt.

Berkane maintained control for the remainder of the match, limiting Rivers United to speculative efforts and half-chances before comfortably seeing out the encounter.

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With the results, Pyramids FC finish top of Group A, while RS Berkane join them in the knockout phase as runners-up, bringing the group stage to a decisive conclusion.

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CAF Champions League

Pyramids Finish Top of Group A with Convincing Win Over Power Dynamos

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Reigning CAF Champions League holders Pyramids FC signed off their group-stage campaign in style with a 3–1 victory over Power Dynamos FC on Matchday 6 to secure top spot in Group A.

The Egyptian side made a bright start and went ahead in the 16th minute when Mostafa Ziko rose highest to head home from a corner, underlining their early dominance.

Power Dynamos responded almost immediately. Frederick Mulambia restored parity a minute later, finishing from close range after a well-worked cross to briefly unsettle the hosts.

However, Pyramids regained control midway through the first half. In the 33rd minute, Youssef Obama reacted quickest inside the penalty area to restore the lead, sending the defending champions into the break 2–1 ahead.

The decisive moment came in the 59th minute when Ewerton unleashed a superb right-footed strike from outside the box that nestled into the bottom corner, extending the advantage to 3–1.

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Despite late substitutions and sporadic pressure from the visitors, Pyramids managed proceedings comfortably to claim all three points and finish the group stage at the summit.

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