CAF Champions League
Power Dynamos, Rivers United Share First Points in Goalless CAF Champions League Draw
Power Dynamos and Rivers United picked up their first points of the CAF Champions’ League group stage after playing out a 0-0 draw in Ndola on Saturday, a result that leaves both sides still anchored to the bottom of Group A at the halfway stage of the competition.
The stalemate at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium came with both teams under pressure, having lost their opening two matches and in urgent need of a positive result to revive their campaigns.
Despite that urgency, clear chances were at a premium in a contest shaped more by caution than attacking fluency. Spurred on by home support, Power Dynamos showed greater intent in the early exchanges, attempting to stretch their visitors with quick transitions and balls into the channels.
Rivers United, however, remained compact and disciplined, frustrating the hosts and slowing the tempo whenever pressure mounted. The Nigerian side gradually grew into the game and enjoyed spells of possession as the first half progressed, but their build-up play lacked the decisive final pass.
Both goalkeepers were largely untroubled before the break, with speculative efforts from distance either blocked or drifting wide.
The pattern of play continued after half-time, with Power Dynamos pushing forward in search of a vital breakthrough while Rivers United looked to exploit spaces on the counter-attack. Clear-cut chances remained elusive, and as the match entered its closing stages, the emphasis appeared to shift towards avoiding another damaging defeat.
The final whistle confirmed a point apiece, leaving both clubs on one point from three matches. While qualification hopes are fading, they are not yet entirely extinguished.
At the top of Group A, attention turns to a crucial clash later in the matchday, with Moroccan side RS Berkane set to host Egyptian champions Pyramids FC. Both teams are locked on six points, and the outcome of that encounter could prove decisive in shaping the race for the quarter-finals
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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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