The 4 clashes to watch on the opening day of the CAF Champions League

Ligue des champions de la CAF/@e-s-tunis

The CAF Champions League returns this weekend for the opening round of the group stage.

Football fans are in for a treat with several exciting fixtures on the horizon. Here are the four must-watch showdowns on the first day of the group stage.

Al Hilal (Sudan) – MC Alger (Algeria)

Both clubs enter this new Champions League campaign with high ambitions. This Arab derby promises to be fiercely contested, even though the Sudanese football giants will be counting on their extensive African experience to make a statement in their opener.

Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) – Saint-Éloi Lupopo (Democratic Republic of Congo)

This unpredictable clash pits a South African side stacked with talented players against a Congolese team that pulled off a major upset by qualifying for the group stage at the expense of last season’s semi-finalists, Orlando Pirates.

Young Africans (Tanzania) – AS FAR (Morocco)

Another encounter that promises to be just as tightly contested. The Tanzanian powerhouse remains formidable at home, while their Moroccan counterparts boast several quality players in their ranks.

Al Ahly (Egypt) – JS Kabylie (Algeria)

The Egyptian juggernauts face a tough assignment against an Algerian side that has often caused them problems in Africa’s premier club competition.

🚨🗞️✍️ 𝙇𝘼𝙏𝙀𝙎𝙏 𝙐𝙋𝘿𝘼𝙏𝙀: BOTH Zizo and Trezeguet are fully fit and ready to start for Al Ahly’s attack against JS Kabylie in the CAF Champions League. 🔴🤯🦅🇪🇬🫡💯 pic.twitter.com/G1JIMmwrbg

— Ayabonga Mthembu (@AyabongaMthemb_) November 20, 2025