The TotalEnergies CAF Champions League 2026/27 Group Stage draw, held Wednesday at the Egyptian Football Association headquarters in Cairo, has produced a series of mouth-watering clashes — none more so than the meeting of five-time African champions Zamalek with Algeria's MC Alger and Tunisia's Club Africain in Group B.

Group B — the standout group

Zamalek, MC Alger, Tanzania's Young Africans, and Club Africain have been pooled together in what promises to be the most fiercely contested group of the opening phase. The Zamalek–MC Alger fixture alone carries enormous historical weight: the Egyptian giants are chasing a sixth continental crown, while the Algerians last lifted the trophy back in 1976.

Group A — Espérance face Angolan duo

Four-time champions Espérance Sportive de Tunis have been drawn with Angola's Petro Atlético, fellow Angolans Wiliete SC, and Mauritania's FC Nouadhibou. Wiliete's presence carries a story of its own — the club stunned defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns in the Second Preliminary Round to earn their place in the group stage.

Group C — Pirates and Simba set for a thriller

Morocco's RS Berkane, Tanzania's Simba SC, South Africa's Orlando Pirates, and Cameroon's Colombe Sportive make up Group C. The fixture between Simba SC and Orlando Pirates is already generating excitement, pitting two clubs with vast continental experience and intensely passionate support bases against each other.

Group D — Pyramids face the Sudanese challenge

Reigning continental champions Pyramids FC from Egypt have been placed alongside Sudan's Al Hilal Omdurman, Guinea's Horoya AC, and Morocco's MAS de Fès. Pyramids, who claimed the title in 2024/25, will need to be at their best against an Al Hilal side that has made the latter stages of African interclub football its second home.

Record prize money and match schedule

The stakes have never been higher financially: the winner of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League 2026/27 will collect a record USD 6 million in prize money, underlining CAF's commitment to growing the commercial value of African club football. Additionally, clubs eliminated in the Preliminary Rounds will receive USD 100,000 each to offset travel and logistical costs.

The Group Stage runs across six matchdays, opening on 27–29 November 2026 and closing on 22–24 January 2027, when the eight quarter-finalists will be confirmed. The full schedule is as follows: MD1 (27–29 November 2026), MD2 (4–6 December 2026), MD3 (18–20 December 2026), MD4 (8–10 January 2027), MD5 (15–17 January 2027), and MD6 (22–24 January 2027). The top two teams from each group advance to the quarter-finals.

Full group stage draw

Group A: Espérance Sportive de Tunis (Tunisia), Petro Atlético (Angola), FC Nouadhibou (Mauritania), Wiliete SC (Angola)

Group B: Zamalek SC (Egypt), Young Africans (Tanzania), MC Alger (Algeria), Club Africain (Tunisia)

Group C: RS Berkane (Morocco), Simba SC (Tanzania), Orlando Pirates (South Africa), Colombe Sportive (Cameroon)

Group D: Pyramids FC (Egypt), Al Hilal Omdurman (Sudan), Horoya AC (Guinea), MAS de Fès (Morocco)