Al Ahly, Pyramids and Esperance Lead Star-studded Quarter-Final line-up for 2025/26 CAF Champions League
Five former winners of Africa’s premier club competition are among the eight teams that have qualified for the Quarter-Finals of the CAF Champions League 2025/26, following the conclusion of the group stage.
Record 12-time champions Al Ahly SC, reigning title holders Pyramids FC, and four-time winners Esperance Sportive de Tunis are all safely through to the knockout phase, underlining the pedigree and stature of this season’s last-eight line-up.
The quarter-finals will also feature former champions Mamelodi Sundowns and FAR Rabat, ensuring that five past winners remain in contention for continental glory.
Egypt’s Pyramids FC, who lifted their first-ever Champions League trophy in June last year, topped Group A in dominant fashion with 16 points from six matches, scoring 14 goals and conceding just twice.
Their compatriots Al Ahly SC, Africa’s most decorated club with 12 titles once again demonstrated their consistency by finishing top of Group B.
Tunisia’s Esperance Sportive de Tunis, champions in 1994, 2011, 2018 and 2019, secured second place in Group D to continue their pursuit of a fifth continental crown.
Morocco’s FAR Rabat, champions in 1985, progressed from Group B, while South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns, winners in 2016 and runners-up last season, advanced from Group C.
Sudan’s Al Hilal Omdurman, twice finalists (1987, 1992), topped Group C as they seek a maiden title.
Morocco’s Renaissance Berkane, three-time Confederation Cup winners, secured second place in Group A and continue their ambition of adding a Champions League title to their continental honours.
Completing the historic last-eight line-up are Mali’s Stade Malien, who topped Group D in a landmark achievement.
Runners-up in the inaugural 1964/65 edition, Stade Malien reached the knock out stages for the first time in their history in the current format of the competition.
The quarter-final draw for the Champions League 2025/26 will be conducted on Tuesday, 17 February 2026, at the Egyptian Football Association Auditorium in Cairo.
The draw will determine the quarter-final pairings and the route to the final as Africa’s elite clubs move into the decisive knockout stage of the competition.
With multiple former champions and emerging contenders still in the race, the 2025/26 edition promises a compelling battle for continental supremacy.
Qualified Clubs – TotalEnergies CAF Champions League 2025/26 Quarter-finals
· Pyramids FC (Egypt) – Group A winners
· Renaissance Berkane (Morocco) – Group A runners-up
· Al Ahly SC (Egypt) – Group B winners
· FAR Rabat (Morocco) – Group B runners-up
· Al Hilal Omdurman (Sudan) – Group C winners
· Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) – Group C runners-up
· Stade Malien (Mali) – Group D winners
· Esperance Sportive de Tunis (Tunisia) – Group D runners-up
