Source: Al Ahly SC
The 2026/27 CAF Champions League group stage has officially been finalized following the recent draw in Cairo. Ironically, the pride of Egypt, the most successful club in the competition’s history and African club of the 20th century, will not be seen at Africa’s Premier club competition this season.
Al Ahly SC and the CAF Champions League have become practically synonymous, as the 12-time African champions have built a legacy that fundamentally defines the competition’s identity. Imagining this prestigious tournament without the Red Giants feels surreal given their unmatched continental pedigree and intimidating aura. The rhythmic drumming, the unified chants, and beautiful visual experience of watching over 75,000 passionate supporters dressed in red packed inside the pressure cooker of Cairo International Stadium will be sorely missed.
Massive club flags waved in the streets of Cairo as red flares and fireworks illuminated the stadium; the entire city glowed blood-red in celebration of Al Ahly’s last Champions League win in 2024. The scenes were similar in South Africa when Mamelodi Sundowns secured their second star. A bright carnival of yellow jerseys decorated city-wide street parties. Amapiano music blasted from bus speakers as The Brazilians paraded a shiny Champions League trophy on an open-top bus parading through the townships. The Yellow Nation went from this unexplainable high to the heartbreak of a shock early exit from the 2026 CAF Champions League qualifiers. This makes it the first time in 12 years that they have failed to reach the group stage of the competition.
Very few African football enthusiasts would have envisioned that Patrice Motsepe’s ‘unstoppable machine’ could crumble on away goals at home and be sent packing before the tournament even starts. Not many pundits would have predicted that this multi-billion-rand squad will be eliminated by an Angolan team that was only established in September 2018. This is perhaps an indication of the ever-rising state of African club football.
Al Ahly commands arguably the largest fan base in global football, bringing tens of millions of television viewers. Sundowns brings the immense financial backing, star-studded glamour, and immense marketability of the Southern region. Without them, global broadcasters miss out on massive peak viewership numbers during the group stages.
Al Ahly is the most decorated club in the world with 125 official titles. Mamelodi Sundowns have become the epitome of domestic dominance after winning 8 PSL titles in a row. Emerging contenders such as Pyramids FC, Orlando Pirates, and Espérance de Tunis will be relieved to avoid the ultimate test of supremacy in the CAF Champions League this season.
