The group stage draw for the 2026–2027 CAF Champions League has placed Egypt’s Zamalek in a formidable group featuring two all-Arab derbies, as the White Knights launch their campaign for a sixth continental title against battle-tested rivals.

The draw ceremony was held on Wednesday, October 28, at the Egyptian Football Association headquarters in Cairo, featuring Zamalek and Pyramids FC as Egypt’s representatives following their progression through the preliminary rounds.

Zamalek headlines Group B alongside Tunisia’s Club Africain, Algeria’s MC Alger, and Tanzania’s Young Africans. The group brings together three former African champions alongside a Tanzanian side that has established a consistent continental presence in recent years.

Five-time champions Zamalek—who last lifted the trophy in 2002—return to the group stage for the first time since the 2022–2023 edition. MC Alger won the title in 1976 and Club Africain in 1991, while Young Africans reached the Confederation Cup final in 2023 and are competing in the Champions League group stage for the fourth consecutive season.

Zamalek secured their place by defeating Rwanda’s APR FC 2-0 on aggregate, while Club Africain eliminated DR Congo’s TP Mazembe 2-1. MC Alger produced a thrilling comeback, overturning a two-goal first-leg deficit against Nigeria’s Enugu Rangers with a 3-0 victory in the return leg.

In Group A, Tunisia’s Esperance ST faces Angola’s Petro de Luanda and Wiliete SC, alongside Mauritania’s FC Nouadhibou. Wiliete SC makes its historic group stage debut after pulling off the shock of the qualifiers by eliminating defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa.

Group C features Morocco’s RS Berkane, Tanzania’s Simba SC, South Africa’s Orlando Pirates, and Cameroon’s Colombe Sportive. The draw pairs the 1995 continental champions against experienced campaigners, alongside the Cameroonian side making its debut appearance in the group phase.

Pyramids FC was drawn into Group D alongside Sudan’s Al Hilal, Guinea’s Horoya AC, and Morocco’s MAS Fes. The 2024–2025 champions enter their fourth consecutive group stage campaign, featuring an Arab derby against Al Hilal and MAS Fes’s inaugural appearance in the modern group format.

The group stage matches will run from November 27 to 29, concluding with Matchday 6 scheduled for January 22 to 24, 2027. Each team will play six home-and-away fixtures, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the quarter-finals.

CAF Confederation Cup 2026–2027 Group Stage Summary:

• Group A: Al Ahly (Egypt), Raja CA (Morocco), ASKO Kara (Togo), CD Primeiro de Agosto (Angola).
• Group B: AS FAR (Morocco), Azam FC (Tanzania), Ahly Tripoli (Libya), Durban City (South Africa).
• Group C: Maniema Union (DR Congo), Singida Black Stars (Tanzania), Red Arrows (Zambia), and the remaining spot pending the outcome between CR Belouizdad (Algeria) and the winner of FC Douanes (Mauritania) vs. Hafia FC (Guinea).
• Group D: USM Alger (Algeria), CS Sfaxien (Tunisia), Black Bulls (Mozambique), Real Bamako (Mali).