CAF Champions League draw: Sundowns to face Rulani Mokwena’s MC Alger

Chante Ho Hip

4 November 2025 | 6:20

The group stages for the CAF Champions League will kick off on 21 November.

Sundowns' Namibian forward #38 Peter Shalulile (L) celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League quarter final between Mamelodi Sundowns and Esperance Sportive de Tunis at Loftus Versfeld stadium in Pretoria on 1 April 2025. Picture: PHILL MAGAKOE/AFP

The stage has been set for the CAF Champions League, and Mamelodi Sundowns now know who they will meet in the group stages.

Sundowns, the only South African representative in this year’s tournament, will meet Al Hilal from Sudan, MC Alger of Algeria, and Lupopo from the DRC in Group C.

Former Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena is at the helm at MC Alger.

This will be the team’s 11^th consecutive Champions League.

They reached the final last year, where they lost to the Egyptian side Pyramids FC.

The defending champions are in Group A with RS Berkane from Morocco, Nigeria’s Rivers United, and Zambia’s Power Dynamos.

Egyptian side Al Ahly headline Group B with Tanzania’s Yanga SC, Morocco's AS Far, and Algeria’s JS Kabylie.

Group D concludes with ES Tunis from Tunisia, Simba SC from Tanzania, Petro Luanda from Algeria, and the Malian side, Stade Malien.

The group stage will kick off on 21 November, then pause during the Africa Cup of Nations.

Fixtures will resume on 23 January 2026, with the knockout stages set for 11 March 2026.