The 2026/27 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League group-stage draw has set up several mouthwatering encounters, but the absence of regular contenders Al Ahly and Mamelodi Sundowns, alongside the continued lack of Ghanaian representation, has added a different dimension to this season’s continental campaign.

The draw, held at the Egyptian Football Association headquarters in Cairo, placed 16 clubs into four groups of four, with the opening round scheduled for November 27 to 29.

Egyptian champions Zamalek will headline Group B alongside Algeria’s MC Alger, Tanzania’s Young Africans and Tunisia’s Club Africain, while four-time champions Espérance Sportive de Tunis will lead Group A in a contest featuring Angola’s Petro Atlético and Wiliete SC, as well as Mauritania’s FC Nouadhibou.

Group C brings together Morocco’s RS Berkane, Tanzania’s Simba SC, South Africa’s Orlando Pirates and Cameroon’s Colombe Sportive, creating a demanding assignment for four clubs seeking to establish themselves in the competition.

Group D features Egyptian growing giant Pyramids FC, Sudanese heavyweights Al Hilal Omdurman, Guinea’s Horoya AC and Morocco’s MAS de Fès.

However, beyond the matchups, the composition of the groups reflects a notable change in the competition’s familiar landscape. Al Ahly, the record 12-time champions, will not feature after failing to reach the group stage, while Sundowns have also fallen short following their elimination by Angolan club Wiliete SC in the preliminary rounds.

Ghana’s Continental Absence Continues

The absence of the two established contenders coincides with another season without a Ghanaian club in the group stage.

Ghana will again have no representative in the Champions League group stage, extending the country’s struggle to maintain a consistent presence in the competition.

Medeama SC, the last Ghanaian representative to reach this phase in 2023/24, were eliminated in the first preliminary round by TP Mazembe.

The Yellow and Mauves reach the group stage three seasons ago after eliminating Guinea’s Horoya AC 4-3 on aggregate in the final preliminary round.

They lost the first leg 2-1 away from home before securing a 3-1 victory in the return fixture to end an 11-year wait for Ghanaian representation at that stage. Berekum Chelsea had previously featured in the 2012/13 campaign.

Medeama’s latest attempt ended in the first preliminary round against TP Mazembe, denying Ghana the opportunity to return to the group stage this season.

The continued absence raises questions about the ability of Ghanaian clubs to negotiate the qualifying rounds and compete consistently against established sides across the continent.

For the domestic game, returning to the group stage remains an important objective, both for competitive exposure and the financial opportunities associated with continental football.

Al Ahly and Sundowns Miss Out

Al Ahly’s absence is particularly significant given their history in the Champions League. The Cairo-based club have won the title a record 12 times and have been among the competition’s most consistent participants over the past decade.

Their last failure to reach the group stage before the current campaign came in 2014, when they were eliminated by Libya’s Al Ahli Benghazi in the second round. They had also missed the group stage in 2009 after losing to Nigeria’s Kano Pillars in the preliminary rounds.

Alos, Sundowns’ elimination is equally notable. The South African side had established a run of 12 consecutive group-stage appearances before their campaign ended against Wiliete.

The Angolan club advanced after both legs finished in draws, with Wiliete progressing on away goals following a 0-0 draw in the first leg and a 1-1 result in South Africa.

Their progress also underlined the unpredictable nature of the preliminary rounds, where established continental sides can be removed before the group-stage draw takes place.

Record Prize Raises the Stakes

While several familiar names are missing, the clubs that have qualified will compete for a record USD 6 million prize for the eventual champions, reflecting the growing financial stakes of Africa’s premier club competition.

The group stage will be contested across six matchdays, beginning from November 27 to 29, with the second round scheduled for December 4 to 6. Matchday three will take place from December 18 to 20, followed by the fourth round from January 8 to 10, 2027.

The fifth round is scheduled for January 15 to 17, before the final group matches take place from January 22 to 24. The top two teams in each group will advance to the quarter-finals.

CAF will also provide USD 100,000 to clubs eliminated during the preliminary rounds to help cover travel and logistical expenses, part of its wider effort to strengthen the financial sustainability of African interclub competitions.

With Zamalek, Espérance, Pyramids and other experienced sides among the qualifiers, the race for the title remains open. Yet the absence of Al Ahly and Sundowns, together with Ghana’s continued exclusion, ensures that this edition will begin with a group-stage landscape missing several familiar names.