Zamalek return as Esperance lead 2026-2027 CAF Champions League group draw

The groups for the 2026-2027 CAF Champions League have been confirmed, with Egyptian club Zamalek returning to the competition after several years away.

Zamalek have been drawn alongside Young Africans, MC Alger and Club Africain in Group B. Esperance de Tunis, meanwhile, headline Group A, which also includes Petro Atletico, FC Nouadhibou and Wiliete.

Moroccan sides RS Berkane and Maghreb Fes are also among the notable teams involved, alongside Egyptian champions Pyramids, Sudanese club Al Hilal and South African side Orlando Pirates.

2026-2027 CAF Champions League groups

Group A

– Esperance de Tunis
– Petro Atletico
– FC Nouadhibou
– Wiliete

Group B

– Zamalek
– Young Africans
– MC Alger
– Club Africain

Group C

– RS Berkane
– Simba
– Orlando Pirates
– Colombe Sportive

Group D

– Pyramids
– Al Hilal
– Horoya
– Maghreb Fes

The draw brings together clubs from across north, west, central and southern Africa, with the 16 teams divided into four groups of four.

Zamalek’s inclusion marks their return to the CAF Champions League following an absence of several years. They will face Tanzanian champions Young Africans, Algerian club MC Alger and Tunisian side Club Africain in their group.

Esperance are joined in Group A by Petro Atletico of Angola, Mauritanian club FC Nouadhibou and fellow Angolan team Wiliete. Group C features RS Berkane, Simba, Orlando Pirates and Cameroon’s Colombe Sportive.

Pyramids have been placed in Group D with Al Hilal of Sudan, Guinean club Horoya and Maghreb Fes of Morocco.

Teams by seeding pot

The first seeding pot consisted of Zamalek, Pyramids, Esperance de Tunis and RS Berkane.

Al Hilal, Simba, Young Africans and Petro Atletico were in the second pot. The third pot contained MC Alger, Orlando Pirates, FC Nouadhibou and Horoya.

Club Africain, Wiliete, Colombe Sportive and Maghreb Fes made up the fourth pot.

How to watch the draw

The CAF Champions League 2026-2027 draw was broadcast live on the official Confederation of African Football YouTube account.

It was also available on beIN Sports, the exclusive broadcaster of the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup. The network’s news channel, beIN SPORTS NEWS HD, was designated to show the draw.