Rivers United Draw Pyramids in CAF Champions League

Rivers United of Nigeria have been placed in the same CAF Champions League group as reigning champions Pyramids of Egypt, following Monday’s draw in Johannesburg.

The Port Harcourt side will compete in Group A alongside Morocco’s Renaissance Berkane and Zambia’s Power Dynamos, with Pyramids the only team in the group to have previously reached the competition’s mini-league phase.

Despite Nigeria’s strong footballing pedigree, only Enyimba have ever lifted Africa’s top club trophy, winning back-to-back titles in 2003 and 2004. Since then, no Nigerian side has managed to replicate that success in the continent’s premier club tournament.

Rivers United endured a challenging route to the group stage, edging past Aigles of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Mozambique’s Black Bulls with narrow one-goal aggregate wins in the qualifying rounds.

They now face a formidable Pyramids team who stunned the continent last season by winning the Champions League, defeating South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns 2-1 in Cairo after a dramatic late draw in the first leg.

The Egyptian champions boast leading striker Mahmoud Mayele, top scorer in last season’s competition with nine goals and a nominee for the 2025 African Player of the Year award.

Berkane forward Oussama Lamlioui is also among the award contenders. Pyramids recently added to their accolades by beating Berkane 1-0 to lift the CAF Super Cup.

Elsewhere, Group C will see Rulani Mokwena reunite with his former club Sundowns, as the coach now leads Algeria’s Mouloudia Alger against the South Africans, as well as Al Hilal of Sudan and Saint-Eloi Lupopo of DR Congo.

In Group B, record 12-time champions Al Ahly of Egypt were drawn with FAR Rabat of Morocco, JS Kabylie of Algeria and Tanzania’s Young Africans.

Tanzania’s other representatives, Simba, take on Tunisia’s four-time winners, Esperance, in Group D, which also includes Petro Luanda of Angola and Mali’s Stade Malien.

The group stage will kick off on 21–22 November, with the final fixtures scheduled for February 13–14.
Group A

Renaissance Berkane (MAR), Pyramids (EGY, holders), Rivers Utd (NGR), Power Dynamos (ZAM)

Group B
Al Ahly (EGY), Young Africans (TAN), FAR Rabat (MAR), JS Kabylie (ALG)

Group C
Mamelodi Sundowns (RSA), Al Hilal (SUD), Mouloudia Alger (ALG), Saint-Eloi Lupopo (COD)

Group D
Esperance (Tunisia), Simba (TAN), Petro Luanda (ANG), Stade Malien (MLI)
— Group winners and runners-up qualify for quarter-finals

Matchdays
November 21-22, November 28-29, January 23-24, January 30-31, February 6-7, February 13-14