CAF Champions League
CAF Champions League: Second-leg primer as Remo Stars and other early pacesetters look to finish the job
The surprising first leg results of the first Preliminary Round of the CAF Champions League have set up a fascinating weekend across the continent as the return legs are played from Friday.
With the second-leg ties to decide who reaches October’s final qualifying hurdle, several favourites carry sizeable cushions, but many contests are delicately poised.
Nigeria’s Remo Stars delivered the first-leg’s most eye-catching 4-0 scoreline with Lamine Ndenge, Ebuka Anthony, Adams Goïta and Seun Olasupo all on target.
Zilimadjou’s famous Stade de Moroni atmosphere is rarely forgiving for visitors in Comoros, but a four-goal deficit means the home side can just hope to rattle the Nigerians early.
Tunisian pair Espérance and Monastir banked emphatic away wins, while Nigeria’s Remo Stars, Tanzania’s Young Africans, Orlando Pirates and Petro de Luanda also opened up clear leads.
Elsewhere, a glut of stalemates means several ties now resemble one-off cup finals with qualification to October’s second preliminary round at stake.
Holders Pyramids will play their postponed preliminary ties on 1 and 5 October after their FIFA Intercontinental Cup commitments; Al-Merreikh v St Éloi Lupopo has also been slated.
Heavyweights with one foot through
Espeance return to Rades with authority and options having won the firsrt leg tie 3-0 at AS FAN of Niger. Aboubacar Diakité’s second-half brace in Niamey helped them to the victory.
They’ll be overwhelming favourites to complete the job, with AS FAN needing an early breakthrough to stir any jeopardy.
Their compatriots Monastir smothered East End Lions in Freetown, scoring once before the break and three more late on to seal the 4-0 win..
The Sierra Leoneans must chase goals away from home, a task complicated by Monastir’s compact shape and counter-threat.
Tanzanian champions Young Africans return to a packed Benjamin Mkapa Stadium with three away goals and a clean sheet. Angolan club Wiliete would need something extraordinary to flip the script.
Orlando Pirates have a commanding cushion when they host Lioli of Lesotho. The South Africans’ task now is game-state management at the Orlando Stadium after winning the first leg 3-0.
Petro de Luanda’s continental nous told in Curepipe with a 3-0 away win over Cercle de Joachim. The Angolans are strong favourites to finish the tie at home, where their front line usually finds space as opponents push on.
Meanwhile Stade d’Abidjan, Ethiopian Insurance, Police FC of Kenya are all well-placed to take advantage of their first-leg wins.
Knife-edge ties poised for drama
Elsewhere one of the round’s premium ties hangs on a single goal from Innocent Kashita as Zambia’s Dynamos face ASEC in Abidjan hoping to turn their narrow 1-0 into a second-leg advantage.
With no advantage banked, RS Berkane’s experience at this stage makes them marginal favourites in Morocco, yet Togolese side Kara’s pace in transition keeps this alive.
A tight goalless draw in the first leg in Benin leaves everything to play for in Tripoli. Ahly Tripoli will be buoyed by home backing, but Dadjè’s organisation and set-piece threat suggest a nervy night ahead for the Libyans.
Second legs are scheduled for 26–28 September across the continent. The winners advance to the second preliminary round on 17–19 and 24–26 October; the group stage begins 21 November.
The broader pathway also matters. Africa’s heaviest hitters, including record winners Al Ahly and Mamelodi Sundowns, enter in the next round.
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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.
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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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.
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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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.
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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