MOUTHWATERING CLASHES AS AFRICAN GIANTS MEET IN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE!
The Quarter-finals of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League 2025/26 will see a showdown between Africa’s elite clubs this weekend, with four intriguing first-leg clashes that showcase the quality and competitiveness of club football on the continent.
With the Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) having announced this week an increase in prize-money with R2 million for the winners, there is plenty of incentive for the eight clubs remaining in the competition.
The Group Stages provided rich entertainment, but now begin the knockout rounds, where the margins for error are small as Africa’s giants collide.
The 2016 champions Mamelodi Sundowns from South Africa will host Stade Malien of Mali at Loftus Stadium, Pretoria on Friday, 13 March (8pm), looking to go one better than their runner-up finish last season.
Sundowns’ experience in continental football means they are regular visitors to this stage of the competition, but Stade Malien have reached the knockout rounds of the CAF Champions League for the first time since 1985.
Defending champions Pyramids FC from Egypt travel to Morocco for the first leg of their Quarter-final tie where they face hosts AS FAR on Friday, 13 March.
Pyramids managed 16 points from 18 in the Group Stages, the most of any club, and were also the only side to hit double figures in terms of goals (14).
This is a repeat of their Quarter-final tie in 2024/25 when Pyramids won the first leg 4-1, before AS FAR claimed a 2-0 home victory.
Moroccan side RS Berkane will host Al Hilal SC of Sudan in the first leg of their tie on Saturday, 14 March.
Berkane, who are holders of the CAF Confederation Cup, are in their debut season in the CAF Champions League, while Al Hilal are in the Quarter-finals for the second year in a row.
The only previous meeting between these clubs was in the CAF Confederation Cup in 2018 when Berkane won 3-0 on aggregate.
Record twelve-time champions Al Ahly of Egypt will travel to Tunisia for a clash against regional rivals Espérance Sportive de Tunis on Sunday, 15 March.
The two clubs have had some memorable meetings down the years, the last in the CAF Champions League 2023/24 Final, where Al Ahly won 1-0 on aggregate.
The second legs of the ties will be played on the weekend of 21–22 March.
CAF CHMAPIONS LEAGUE QUARTER-FINAL FIRST LEG FIXTURES
Friday, 13 March: Mamelodi Sundowns vs Stade Malien – Loftus Stadium, Pretoria; AS FAR vs Pyramids FC – Stade Olympique de Rabat
Saturday, 14 March
RS Berkane vs Al Hilal – Stade Municipal de Berkane;
Sunday, 15 March:
Espérance Sportive de Tunis vs Al Ahly – Hammadi Agrebi Stadium, Rades
