By Olawale Lawanson Alabi

Abeokuta, November 3, 2025 (CAF/CrestNewsOnline) There will be an Egyptian derby in the group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup 2025/2026 after Zamalek and Al Masry were paired together when the draw was conducted in Johannesburg on Monday.

Zamalek, who lifted the trophy in the 2023/2024 season, will face familiar opponents in Group D, along with South African giants Kaizer Chiefs and Zambian outfit ZESCO United in what looks a tough pool.

USM Alger from Algeria are the top seeds in Group A and face Djoliba AC de Bamako (Mali), Olympique Club de Safi (Morocco) and FC San Pedro (Cote d’Ivoire) in their pool.

Three-time CAF Champions League winners Wydad Casablanca from Morocco headline Group B, and will take on AS Maniema (DR Congo), Azam FC (Tanzania) and debutants Nairobi United (Kenya).

Algeria’s CR Belouizdad will be up against last year’ semi-finalists Stellenbosch FC from South Africa, as well as AS Otoho (Congo) and Singida Black Stars (Tanzania), in Group C.

Group stage action begin on the weekend of November 21 to 23 with two rounds played ahead of the 2025 CAF Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

The clubs will resume action on the weekend of January 23 to 25, 2026.

Moroccan side RS Berkane are the current defending champions in the CAF Confederation Cup when they claimed their joint record third title by beating Simba SC of Tanzania in last year’s final.

That drew them level with Tunisia’s CS Sfaxien on the all-time winners list.

Zamelek’s two titles and USM Alger’s single success in 2022/23 make them the only former champions remaining in this year’s field.

The winners of this year’s title will take home 2 million U.S. dollars in prize money, with the runners-up to receive 1 million U.S. dollars.

The teams that advance from the group are guaranteed a minimum of 550,000 U.S. dollars, while the teams that finish third and fourth in their pool receive 400,000 U.S. dollars.

THE GROUPS

GROUP A: USM Alger (Algeria), Djoliba AC de Bamako (Mali), Olympique Club de Safi (Morocco), FC San Pedro (Cote d’Ivoire)

GROUP B: Wydad Casablanca (Morocco), AS Maniema (DR Congo), Azam FC (Tanzania), Nairobi United (Kenya)

GROUP C: CR Belouizdad (Algeria), Stellenbosch FC (South Africa), AS Otoho (Congo), Singida Black Stars (Tanzania)

GROUP D: Zamalek (Egypt), Al Masry (Egypt), Kaizer Chiefs (South Africa), ZESCO United (Zambia)

MATCH DAYS

MD1: 21-23 November

MD2: 28-30 November

MD3: 23-25 January

MD4: 30 Janunary-01 February

MD5: 06-08 February

MD6: 13-15 February

(www.crestnewsonline.ng)