The eyes and ears of football fans across Africa, particularly in Tanzania, will be focused today on the headquarters of the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) in Cairo, where the Confederation of African Football (CAF) will conduct the group-stage draws for the 2026/27 CAF Champions League (CAFCL) and CAF Confederation Cup (CAFCC).
The draw is expected to officially begin at 3:00 p.m. East Africa Time (EAT). The big news for football fans in Tanzania is that NBC Mainland Premier League leaders Simba SC and their rivals Yanga will not face each other in this group stage.
This comes after both giants were placed in Pot 2, based on their performances in CAF's five-year club rankings.
CAF's draw rules state that teams placed in the same pot cannot be drawn into the same group. Simba SC, who stormed into this stage with a commanding 9-1 aggregate victory over 15 de Agosto, are waiting to discover their opponents in their quest for continental glory.
Pot 2 is completed by two other giants: Al Hilal of Sudan and Petro de Luanda of Angola. However, Simba and Yanga avoiding each other does not mean the road ahead will be easy.
Each team will have to face a formidable opponent from Pot 1, which features giants such as Espérance de Tunis (Tunisia), RS Berkane (Morocco), Pyramids FC and Zamalek SC (Egypt).
Full Composition of Today's Draw Pots:
- Pot 1: Espérance de Tunis (Tunisia), RS Berkane (Morocco), Pyramids FC (Egypt), Zamalek SC (Egypt).
- Pot 2: Simba SC (Tanzania), Young Africans (Tanzania), Al Hilal (Sudan), Petro de Luanda (Angola).
- Pot 3: MC Alger (Algeria), Orlando Pirates (South Africa), FC Nouadhibou (Mauritania), Horoya AC (Guinea).
- Pot 4: Club Africain (Tunisia), Wiliete SC (Angola), Colombe Sportive (Cameroon), Maghreb de Fes (Morocco).
This season's group-stage draw has been preceded by a major surprise, with defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa eliminated in the preliminary round by Angolan newcomers Wiliete SC.
Coaches of all the teams are eagerly awaiting the draw to see how the fixtures will shape their campaigns from November 2026, with the possibility of a "Group of Death" emerging.
For example, Simba or Yanga could be drawn into a group featuring Espérance de Tunis (Pot 1), Orlando Pirates (Pot 3), and either Club Africain or Maghreb de Fes (Pot 4)—a challenging campaign that would demand physical strength and sound tactical planning.
The draw will be broadcast live through CAF's digital platforms, including its YouTube channel, CAF TV.
