CAF Champions League: Full List of 16 teams, Orlando Pirates lead SA hopes

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed the 2026/27 CAF Champions League group stage 16 teams.

With defending champions Sundowns suffering a shocking exit, Orlando Pirates will be the only team flying Mzansi’s flag.

ORLANDO PIRATES AMONG AFRICAN GIANTS

Set to be paired in a four-team group, the Buccaneers will confirm their opponents on Wednesday 28 October. The Sea Robber marched in the group stage after a clinical 5-0 aggregate win over Namibian champions African Stars.

Some of the strongest teams in the stage including Egyptian sides Pyramids FC and Zamalek. There is also Tunisia’s Espérance de Tunis and Club Africain, and Morocco’s RS Berkane and MAS de Fès.

Tanzania will also have two representatives in Simba SC and Young Africans, while Angola will be represented by Petro de Luanda and Wiliete SC.

CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GROUP STAGES

The full list of qualified teams also includes Algeria’s MC Alger, Sudan’s Al Hilal, Mauritania’s FC Nouadhibou, Cameroon’s Colombe Sportive and Guinea’s Horoya AC.

The group stages are scheduled to begin at the end of November, with the first round of matches set for 27-29 November.

With four groups of four teams, teams will all face each other home and away before the winner and runners up advance to the quarterfinals.

The 16 qualified teams:

• Orlando Pirates (South Africa)
• Pyramids FC (Egypt)
• Zamalek (Egypt)
• Espérance de Tunis (Tunisia)
• Club Africain (Tunisia)
• RS Berkane (Morocco)
• MAS de Fès (Morocco)
• Simba SC (Tanzania)
• Young Africans (Tanzania)
• Petro de Luanda (Angola).
• Wiliete SC (Angola)
• MC Alger (Algeria)
• Al Hilal (Sudan)
• FC Nouadhibou (Mauritania)
• Colombe Sportive (Cameroon)
• Horoya AC (Guinea).