The AFRICA/CAF Champions league 2026/2027 🏆

[yixichloro2xx]

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I noticed that we don't have an active Champions league thread for Africa Football.
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‎With the CAF Champions League season already started, I think it would be good to have one dedicated thread where we can discuss everything happening in the competition.
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‎Recent Champions 🏆

Season	Winner	Country
2025/26	Mamelodi Sundowns	South Africa🇿🇦
2024/25	Pyramids FC	Egypt🇪🇬
2023/24	Al Ahly	Egypt🇪🇬
2022/23	Al Ahly	Egypt🇪🇬

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‎🏆 Top CAF Champions League Record Winners

Rank	Club	Country	Titles	Winning Years
1	Al Ahly	🇪🇬 Egypt	12	1982, 1987, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024
2	Zamalek SC	🇪🇬 Egypt	5	1984, 1986, 1993, 1996, 2002
3	TP Mazembe	🇨🇩 DR Congo	5	1967, 1968, 2009, 2010, 2015
4	Espérance de Tunis	🇹🇳 Tunisia	4	1994, 2011, 2018, 2019
5	Raja CA	🇲🇦 Morocco	3	1989, 1997, 1999
6	Wydad AC	🇲🇦 Morocco	3	1992, 2017, 2022
7	Hafia FC	🇬🇳 Guinea	3	1972, 1975, 1977
8	Canon Yaoundé	🇨🇲 Cameroon	3	1971, 1978, 1980
9	Mamelodi Sundowns	🇿🇦 South Africa	2	2016, 2026
10	ES Sétif	🇩🇿 Algeria	2	1988, 2014
11	JS Kabylie	🇩🇿 Algeria	2	1981, 1990
12	Asante Kotoko	🇬🇭 Ghana	2	1970, 1983
13	Enyimba F.C.	🇳🇬 Nigeria	2	2003, 2004

‎Caf Champions league Format

1. ‎Qualifying rounds (preliminary phases) : 2 rounds are being played, whereby teams paired up  plays two-legged (home and away) matches. Note: The top and strongest team doesn't play in first round, instead they play in the second round.

2. ‎Group stage:  16 teams from the preliminary phase qualifies to the group stage.  The groups are in 4 (A,B,C,D) , where the top two teams qualifies to the Quarter-finals (2 legged) up to the Final.

3. ‎The Final : The CAF champions league final is different from the ones that are common to us. This one is played in 2 legs (Home and Away),  with each finalist host one match. Away goal rule still exist in our Champions league.
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[yixichloro2xx]

Preliminary Round 1 and their next opponents
             
             
             

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026%E2%80%9327_CAF_Champions_League_qualifying_rounds

[SatoPrincess]

I noticed that we don't have an active Champions league thread for Africa Football.

Actually, we do. Here it is: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5552887.msg65661037#msg65661037

[yixichloro2xx]

I noticed that we don't have an active Champions league thread for Africa Football.

Actually, we do. Here it is: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5552887.msg65661037#msg65661037

I observed that the thread mostly focus on National team football not majorly on Clubs. The discussion there are usually about AFCON, AFCON qualifiers, FIFA world cup/qualifiers.  This was a topic created in 2021 : https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5329144.msg56734198#msg56734198 but no one participated in it.

[Charles-Tim]

I observed that the thread mostly focus on National team football not majorly on Clubs. The discussion there are usually about AFCON, AFCON qualifiers, FIFA world cup/qualifiers.  This was a topic created in 2021 : https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5329144.msg56734198#msg56734198 but no one participated in it.

I noticed this also, but you can try and bring up other discussions on the thread that SatoPrincess mentioned and see if people will discuss about it. But what I noticed is that I do not think people like to discuss about Africa National Leagues and CAF. Or maybe in Nigeria because Nigerians dominate the thread.

[BIT-BENDER]

It's a good one if there is no post about the CAF champions League but honestly the league is not well watched but those thread would probably Kindle or rekindle people's interests in African club football.
My favorite team back then in CAF champions League was Enyimba from Nigeria and Al ahly of Egypt the encounter between this to team always give but now I don't know who is dominating in the past five to ten years.

[Agbe]

I think people are not discussing those competition because they are not showing them. Personally I have not seen them in any sports channels on TV. And if they were showing and there were specific frequency channels allocated to those competitions and people are following them up. Aha! Discussion would be like other competition in the region.

As for now we can discuss all those competitions in this thread https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5552887.msg65661037#msg65661037. Though Op initiative is good one but how many people will join this discussion because as I said there is no channel though one or two matches will be showing in those general sports channels but just few.

[Brizi5000]

It's a good one if there is no post about the CAF champions League but honestly the league is not well watched but those thread would probably Kindle or rekindle people's interests in African club football.
My favorite team back then in CAF champions League was Enyimba from Nigeria and Al ahly of Egypt the encounter between this to team always give but now I don't know who is dominating in the past five to ten years.

The likes of Al Ahly fc of Egypt and Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa are very much in dominance of the CAF champions league, Al Ahly Fc  having won it back to back during the 2023 and 2024 seasons. But currently, Mamelodi sundowns of South Africa are the reigning champions, this team is one of the best team in Africa right now, recently they won their game against Al-ahly Saudi Fc in the FIFA Africa-Asia pacific cup putting African football on the global map. Enyimba Fc have fallen off in the CAF champions league a long time ago, I can’t even remember the last time they qualified for the CAF champions league. My favorite team Rivers United just got eliminated from the CAF champions league 2026 by FC San Pedro of Ivory Coast, although Nigeria still have one representative remaining in the competition, Enugu Rangers Fc.  Maybe because of this I might  still be interested to watch and follow up with the competition since Nigeria still have a representative left in the competition. If not it will be less interesting for most people to follow up with the competition especially Nigerians.

[Moreno233]

I saw Al Hilal in the list, I thought that is a club from UAE, if so how are they playing in CAF champions league?

It's such a shame that only Rangers scaled through among the Nigerian teams.

I noticed that we don't have an active Champions league thread for Africa Football.

Actually, we do. Here it is: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5552887.msg65661037#msg65661037

This thread is for CAF champions league and mot nations cup. I think the other thread is mainly for international matches and not club sides so this thread is still in order and very necessary.

[yixichloro2xx]

I think people are not discussing those competition because they are not showing them. Personally I have not seen them in any sports channels on TV. And if they were showing and there were specific frequency channels allocated to those competitions and people are following them up. Aha! Discussion would be like other competition in the region.

As for now we can discuss all those competitions in this thread https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5552887.msg65661037#msg65661037. Though Op initiative is good one but how many people will join this discussion because as I said there is no channel though one or two matches will be showing in those general sports channels but just few.

Most CAF matches are shown on super sport channel  on DSTV , Saturdays and Sundays, like Wise their Confredation cup. It's just that the time they usually air those matches, premier league/la liga matches are also being played during those periods, which overshadows the Competition. For me I feel there isn't enough advertisement, promotion and publicity about the Champions league.

This current competition 2 Nigeria team qualified Enugu rangers and Rivers United (which most Nigeria football doesn't know about). African football standard is still and most of the times , the North African team are the dominant ones.

[obuoma]

The CAF champions league have been dominated by Egyptian teams for several years but recently we have seen serious improvements in South African teams with Mamelodi Sundowns winning it to remain the defending champions. I have the feeling that they will still win it again for the second time in a row, they are not slowing down. Their recent matches can attest to that, as they have consistently scored more than ine goal every of their match. If they don't win it, it will miss them narrowly.

[swogerino]

I see Mamelodi Sundowns as the last winner of the event which is quite surprising to me considering that is a South African team and one of the teams there not specifically this one has a Youtube video where the player misses a penalty in such a clamorous way that all world knew it was a fixed game. That is why I am surprised to see Mamelodi Sundowns there in the top, it is good that they have fought hard and won it last season, meaning they have not played dirty like that team in Youtube.

[Charles-Tim]

My favorite team back then in CAF champions League was Enyimba from Nigeria and Al ahly of Egypt the encounter between this to team always give but now I don't know who is dominating in the past five to ten years.

Al Ahly really dominated the Egypt Premier League for a long time, but I think there are changes now. The club is still very good, but other clubs are also very good than before in Egypt.

When I was actively betting, Nigerian clubs are not that good. Enyimba which was a very good club before at the time was playing rubbish. I am referring to 2012 to 2019.

Are there changes now?

I will try and be following NPFL and the CAF now.

[New Judgement]

I think people are not discussing those competition because they are not showing them. Personally I have not seen them in any sports channels on TV. And if they were showing and there were specific frequency channels allocated to those competitions and people are following them up. Aha! Discussion would be like other competition in the region.

I blame the African elites for not investing in Africa. Just imagine that the big TV stations in the continent don’t have dedicated channels to show Africa footballs, but they are quick to have multiple channels for leagues outside the continent. How will people support what they are not seeing? People will adopt what they are seeing on the regular basis. You only see the TV channels showing interest in African football when it’s time for AFCON. We can’t grow like that, they should normalize broadcasting our own champions league games, that is the only way to get the interest of the people back in the league.

[Agbe]

My favorite team back then in CAF champions League was Enyimba from Nigeria and Al ahly of Egypt the encounter between this to team always give but now I don't know who is dominating in the past five to ten years.

I will try and be following NPFL and the CAF now.

As foe my I am following the NPFL very well. Like today there several matches to watch. By 4pm but stations to watch them is the problem unless Sport TV blogger channel stream them for us to watch or if your local state TV channels show them before I can watch them. This has been a challenge in the Nigeria football system.

And as for the CAF Champions League, I don't have anything to say or co contribute goe now because I don't even know the teams that are playing. But after today I will look for a way to know more.

[DubemIfedigbo001]

It's a good one if there is no post about the CAF champions League but honestly the league is not well watched but those thread would probably Kindle or rekindle people's interests in African club football.
My favorite team back then in CAF champions League was Enyimba from Nigeria and Al ahly of Egypt the encounter between this to team always give but now I don't know who is dominating in the past five to ten years.

I agree with you and I like this thread, it is very different from the discussions in the Africa football mega thread. I think this one is more specific. This thread is equivalent to UCL for Africa teams and should have its own thread. I have almost forgotten that this league exists, but seeing this thread, I went to check the fixtures.

Al Ahly has always dominated this league, I watched them as a small boy and I still admire their consistency to maintaining dominance until recent times. If we continue watching the league and contributing here, more people would be inclined to watch our continental Champions league.

[Charles-Tim]

And as for the CAF Champions League, I don't have anything to say or co contribute goe now because I don't even know the teams that are playing. But after today I will look for a way to know more.

I know the teams in the past, especially those North Africans like Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco. I will also try to be watching their matches now, or at least be betting on the matches and checking the live scores for it.

This thread is equivalent to UCL for Africa teams and should have its own thread. I have almost forgotten that this league exists, but seeing this thread, I went to check the fixtures.

I do not know if OP think of it as I am thinking of it, but I think that is how he will be thinking of it. It is equivalent to two and not just UCL. The two CAF are:

CAF Champions League
CAF Confederation Cup.

[ZeroVinsonN]

I observed that the thread mostly focus on National team football not majorly on Clubs. The discussion there are usually about AFCON, AFCON qualifiers, FIFA world cup/qualifiers.  This was a topic created in 2021 : https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5329144.msg56734198#msg56734198 but no one participated in it.

I noticed this also, but you can try and bring up other discussions on the thread that SatoPrincess mentioned and see if people will discuss about it. But what I noticed is that I do not think people like to discuss about Africa National Leagues and CAF. Or maybe in Nigeria because Nigerians dominate the thread.

Nation's Cup gets people up and excited but when it comes to club football, the interest is just not as high or at least I don't see it very much around here.
I think I might start placing bets on them but I need to familiarize myself with them first, I'm not eager on the gambling but it's probably the best way for me to get interested.
Imagine if we can bring our obsession with European football to our African football, it might not look like much on an individual level when everyone starts doing it, well I suppose we will find out.

[Fiatless]

As foe my I am following the NPFL very well. Like today there several matches to watch. By 4pm but stations to watch them is the problem unless Sport TV blogger channel stream them for us to watch or if your local state TV channels show them before I can watch them. This has been a challenge in the Nigeria football system.

And as for the CAF Champions League, I don't have anything to say or co contribute goe now because I don't even know the teams that are playing. But after today I will look for a way to know more.

I used to attend some of the live games a few years ago during my days at the university. Watching these games made me realize that Nigeria is blessed with many football talents. But the problem we have is a lack of sponsorship and corruption. If these games were always transmitted, some of us might make out time to watch some of them.

Regarding the CAF Champions League, I stopped following the games because of the poor performance of Nigerian clubs. The last time a Nigerian side made it to the semi-finals was in 2012 with Sunshine Stars. It's sad that a football powerhouse like Nigeria has not made it to the semi-finals in 14 years.

Nation's Cup gets people up and excited but when it comes to club football, the interest is just not as high or at least I don't see it very much around here.
I think I might start placing bets on them but I need to familiarize myself with them first, I'm not eager on the gambling but it's probably the best way for me to get interested.
Imagine if we can bring our obsession with European football to our African football, it might not look like much on an individual level when everyone starts doing it, well I suppose we will find out.

Supported. There is a saying that a good product naturally attracts customers. If the quality of the game, officiating, stadium, and broadcasting improves, Nigerians will follow up these games. 

[CryptSafe]

yixichloro2xx , you have done well by bringing this discussion up here. Although I have heard about the league but it is not that popular because we don't have the opportunity to view it online or via broadcast. This is why the African league is not as popular as we expected it to be. People losing interest in African leagues because of poor publicity.
For the fact that you have put up this thread, I will be following up with it and seeing how it goes and I hope it gets engagements just like the AFCON to thread we already have.
Can you please reference any tv station on website were CAF live matches can be viewed?