African club football is braced for another gripping phase after the draw for the 2025/26 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League quarter-finals delivered a compelling list of fixtures, led by a blockbuster showdown between continental heavyweights Al Ahly and Espérance de Tunis.
The draw, conducted on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, in Cairo, has set the stage for an intense race to the final, with established giants and ambitious challengers all eyeing Africa’s most prestigious club title.
The clash between Al Ahly and Espérance instantly captures attention, reigniting one of the fiercest rivalries in African football and recalling memories of classic finals and dramatic knockout battles between both sides.
Elsewhere, Morocco’s RS Berkane will square off against Sudanese powerhouse Al Hilal in a tie expected to be fiercely contested and tactically demanding.
In another eye-catching encounter, South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns face Mali’s Stade Malien, a matchup that promises attacking flair against stubborn resilience.
The final quarter-final pairing sees Moroccan military club AS FAR drawn against Egyptian side Pyramids FC, with both teams confident of pushing deep into the competition after impressive group-stage campaigns.
The semi-final pathway has also been clearly defined.
The winner of the Al Ahly versus Espérance tie will meet either Sundowns or Stade Malien, while the victor from the AS FAR and Pyramids FC clash will take on whoever emerges from the RS Berkane versus Al Hilal encounter.
With little margin for error, the route to the final guarantees elite-level competition at every step.
Quarter-final first legs are scheduled for March 13–15, with the return fixtures set for March 20–22. The semi-finals will follow in April, before the two-legged final in May brings the 2025/26 CAF Champions League season to a dramatic close.
With heavyweight names, historic rivalries and contrasting football philosophies colliding, the CAF Champions League knockout stage is once again poised to deliver the drama, passion and quality that fans across the continent have come to expect.
Quarter-Final Pairings at a Glance
(First-named teams, who finished as group runners-up, will host the first legs)
RS Berkane vs Al Hilal
Espérance de Tunis vs Al Ahly
Mamelodi Sundowns vs Stade Malien
AS FAR vs Pyramids FC
