CAF Champions League 2025-26: Egyptian Giants Roar as Matchday 1 Delivers Goals and Drama
The 2025-2026 CAF Champions League group stage exploded into life this weekend, delivering a spectacle of high-scoring affairs, tactical masterclasses, and a clear message from North Africa’s heavyweights. Matchday 1 saw the continent’s elite clubs jostling for early dominance, with Egyptian powerhouses Pyramids FC and Al Ahly sending particularly terrifying warnings to their rivals.
Group A: Pyramids and Berkane Set a Blistering Pace
In Group A, the story was one of absolute home dominance. Pyramids FC wasted no time asserting their title ambitions in Cairo, dismantling Nigeria’s Rivers United with a clinical 3-0 victory. The Egyptian side moved the ball with a fluidity that suggests they are peaking at the right time.
Meanwhile, in Morocco, RS Berkane matched their group rivals beat-for-beat. Facing Zambia’s Power Dynamos, the “Orange Boys” replicated the 3-0 scoreline seen in Cairo. The Moroccans suffocated the visitors with a high press and ruthless efficiency, leaving the group perfectly split in two: the victors at the top and the vanquished needing to recover quickly.
Group B: Al Ahly Riot in Cairo while Yanga Grinds Out a Win
Group B, widely touted as the “Group of Death,” lived up to the hype thanks to a frightening display from the Red Devils. Al Ahly treated their home fans to a footballing exhibition, thrashing historic Algerian rivals JS Kabylie 4-1. The Cairo giants looked imperious, relentlessly attacking the Algerian defense to secure the three points.
Over in Tanzania, the atmosphere was electric but the game was far tighter. Young Africans (Yanga) proved their mettle by edging out the formidable AS FAR Rabat 1-0. It was a gritty, tactical affair decided by fine margins, but the victory is massive for the Tanzanian champions, proving they are genuine contenders for the knockout stages.
Group C: Sundowns Cruise and Al Hilal Edge a Thriller
Pretoria was the setting for another masterclass by Mamelodi Sundowns. The Brazilians welcomed DR Congo’s St Eloi Lupopo and promptly dispatched them 3-1. Playing their signature brand of possession-based football, Sundowns controlled the tempo from the first whistle to secure a comfortable start.
The group’s other fixture provided perhaps the most balanced contest of the weekend. Sudanese giants Al Hilal hosted MC Alger in a match that swung back and forth. In the end, Al Hilal utilized their home advantage to secure a vital 2-1 victory. The win puts them level on points with Sundowns, creating an early gap between the top two and the bottom two.
Group D: A Stalemate in Tunis
While goals flew in elsewhere, Group D began with a tense, tactical deadlock. Espérance de Tunis, usually so dominant at home, were frustrated by a disciplined Stade Malien side. The match ended 0-0, a result that feels like a victory for the visitors from Bamako and a missed opportunity for the “Blood and Gold.”
All eyes now turn to the remaining fixture between Simba SC and Petro Luanda. With the other two teams dropping points, the winner of this pending clash has a golden opportunity to seize the top spot immediately.
💠𝐆𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽𝗲 𝗔
■Pyramids FC🇪🇬 3-0 🇳🇬Rivers United
■RS Berkane🇲🇦 3-0 🇿🇲 Power Dynamos
𝟭▪︎ 🇪🇬 Pyramids FC 3 pts (+3)
𝟮▪︎ 🇲🇦 RS Berkane 3 pts (+3)
𝟑▪︎ 🇳🇬Rivers United 0 pt (-3)
𝟒▪︎ 🇿🇲Power Dynamos 0 pt (-3)
💠𝐆𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽𝗲 𝐁
■Al Ahly FC🇪🇬 4-1 🇩🇿 JS Kabylie
■Young Africans 🇹🇿 1-0 🇲🇦AS FAR Rabat
𝟭▪︎ 🇪🇬 Al Ahly 3 pts (+3)
𝟮▪︎ 🇹🇿Young Africans 3 pts(+1)
𝟑▪︎ 🇲🇦AS FAR Rabat 0 pts (-1)
𝟒▪︎ 🇩🇿JS Kabylie 0 pt (-3)
💠𝐆𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽𝗲 𝗖
■Mamelodi Sundowns🇿🇦 3-1 🇨🇩St Eloi Lupopo
■Al Hilal 🇸🇩 2-1 🇩🇿 MC Alger
𝟭▪︎ 🇿🇦Mamelodi Sundowns 3 pts (+2)
𝟮▪︎ 🇸🇩Al Hilal SC 3 pts(+1).
𝟑▪︎ 🇩🇿MC Alger 0 pt(-1)
𝟒▪︎ 🇨🇩St Eloi Lupopo 0 Pts (-2)
💠𝐆𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽𝗲 𝗗
■Espérance Tunis 🇹🇳 0-0 🇲🇱Stade Malien
■Simba SC🇹🇿🇦🇴 Petro Luanda
𝟭▪︎ 🇲🇱Stade Malien 1 pt (+0)
𝟮▪︎ 🇹🇳 Espérance Tunis 1 pt (+0)
𝟑▪︎ 🇹🇿 Simba SC 0 pt (-1 match)
𝟒▪︎ 🇦🇴 Petro Luanda 0 pt (-1 match)
