CAF Champions League
WYDAD TO APPEAL CAF’S DECISION ON CHAMPIONS’ LEAGUE
The dust may not have completely settled on the 2019 CAF Champions League final, which ended controversially. Following the inconclusive return leg match of Esperance of Tunisia and Wydad Athletic of Morocco, the trophy was awarded to Esperance following the refusal of Wydad to continue on the ground of a disputed goal.
CAF days later, reversed itself and ordered a replay. Both teams disputed the decision and filed different appeals at Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS).
The appeal of Esperance was upheld and ruled as the valid winner of the competition. CAF later accepted the verdict and imposed fine on the Moroccan side.
According to reports from Morocco, Wydad is planning to appeal the decision. The club is however believed not to have the backing of the Moroccan football governing body (FRMF).
The governing body of Moroccan Club Wydad of Casablanca, headed by Said Naciri has decided to appeal the disciplinary ruling made by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Wednesday.
Wydad Casablanca has prepared an appeal file claiming the disciplinary board’s decision is invalid. The committee ruled that Wydad “withdrew” from the second leg of the African Champions League final. Wydad claims that they were forced to end the match due to the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) not working.
WAC argue that the disciplinary board is not the body competent to issue a ruling about the case, adding that this falls under the remit of CAF’s Organising Committee for Inter-Club Competitions and Management of Club Licensing Systems.
In the appeal WAC officials question CAF’s decision to rule in favor of Esperance, saying that the ruling goes against FIFA rules.
Moroccan newspaper Al Massae reported on Friday, that FRMF has withdrawn its support for WAC’s case. There was no FRMF representative present during the CAF meeting, while WAC was represented by president Naciri and a small delegation.
The CAF’s Disciplinary Board decided to rule in favor of the Tunisian club, Esperance de Tunis (EST), declaring WAC loser in the second leg of the Champions’ League final. The ruling, however, contradicts the initial decision to strip EST from the title, ordering the team to return the cup and the medals.
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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