The draw for the Champions League and Confederation Cup group stage will take place on Monday

The draw for the group stage of the 2025-2026 CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup will take place on Monday in Johannesburg, South Africa. Sixteen teams have qualified for the group stage of both competitions, and the participating clubs will be divided into four groups of four. The top two teams from each group will advance to the quarterfinals, the first knockout stage in both tournaments. The Champions League group stage is expected to be full of excitement and fierce competition, with several former champions participating. Seven of the 16 teams in the group stage have collectively won 22 titles in the competition, which began in 1965. Eight clubs represent Arab football in this season's Champions League group stage, comprising half of the participating teams. Leading the Arab contingent is Al Ahly of Egypt, the record holder with 12 titles. Also representing Arab football are Esperance of Tunisia (four-time champions), JS Kabylie of Algeria (two-time champions), MC Alger and FAR Rabat of Morocco (one-time champions), Pyramids FC of Egypt (the defending champions), Al Hilal of Sudan, and RS Berkane of Morocco, making their Champions League debut. The current edition of the CAF Confederation Cup is missing several former champions, most notably Egypt's Zamalek and DR Congo's TP Mazembe, each with five titles. Also absent are Morocco's Wydad Casablanca and Raja Casablanca, each with three titles, as well as Tunisia's Étoile du Sahel and Club Africain, each with one title. In contrast, the new edition features several of Africa's biggest clubs, including six teams aiming to keep the title in Arab hands for the eighth consecutive year. Zamalek leads the pack, seeking their third title. Wydad Casablanca is also in the running, aiming for their first, along with Algeria's USM Alger, the 2023 champions, and CR Belouizdad, also seeking their first title. Al Masry and Morocco's Olympique Safi are also in contention.