CAIRO — Africa’s football heavyweights are set to collide as the quarter-finals of the CAF Champions League 2025/26 get underway, featuring four compelling first-leg encounters that highlight the quality and intensity of club football across the continent.
With the Confederation of African Football (CAF) recently announcing an increase in prize money – with the champions set to receive $6 million – the stakes have never been higher for the eight teams still in contention.
The group stage delivered thrilling football, but the competition now enters the decisive knockout phase, where the margin for error is minimal and every moment could prove decisive as Africa’s top clubs battle for continental glory.
Defending champions Pyramids FC of Egypt travels to Morocco to face hosts AS FAR in the first-leg of their quarter-final clash on Friday, March 13.
The Egyptian side dominated the group stage, collecting 16 points from a possible 18 – the highest tally among all teams – while also finishing as the competition’s most prolific attack with 14 goals, the only team to reach double figures.
The clash, according to cafonline.com, revisits last season’s quarter-final meeting between the two sides. On that occasion, Pyramids secured a commanding 4–1 first-leg victory, before AS FAR responded with a 2–0 win at home, though it was not enough to overturn the deficit.
Elsewhere, the 2016 champions Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa welcome Mali’s Stade Malien to Pretoria on Friday, March 13, as they look to build momentum after finishing runners-up last season.
Sundowns’ vast experience in continental competition has made them regulars at this stage of the tournament. In contrast, Stade Malien is enjoying a historic campaign, having reached the knockout rounds of the CAF Champions League for the first time since 1985.
Moroccan side RS Berkane will host Al-Hilal SC of Sudan in the first-leg of their match on Saturday, March 14.
Berkane, who is holders of the CAF Confederation Cup, is in their debut season in the CAF Champions League, while Al-Hilal is in the quarter-finals for the second year in a row.
The only previous meeting between these clubs was in the CAF Confederation Cup in 2018 when Berkane won 3-0 on aggregate.
Record twelve-time champions Al-Ahly of Egypt will travel to Tunisia for a clash against regional rivals Esperance Sportive de Tunis on Sunday, March 15.
The two clubs have had some memorable meetings down the years, the last in the CAF Champions League 2023/24 Final, where Al-Ahly won 1-0 on aggregate.
The second-legs of the ties will be played on the weekend of March 21–22.
Quarter-final 1st-leg fixtures
Friday, March 13
Sundowns vs Stade Malien – Pretoria
AS FAR vs Pyramids FC – Rabat
Saturday, March 14
RS Berkane vs Al-Hilal – Berkane
Sunday, March 15
Esperance vs Al-Ahly – Rades
