The 2025–26 CAF Champions League group stage kicks off this weekend, with South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns opening their campaign at Loftus Versfeld against DR Congo side Saint-Éloi Lupopo.
Sundowns enter the new season as one of the tournament’s favourites after finishing as 2024–25 CAF Champions League runners-up, losing last season’s final to Pyramids FC.
Under head coach Miguel Cardoso, Sundowns have continued their strong domestic and continental form. They sit at the summit of the PSL table and remain one of Africa’s most consistent performers on the continent. Their home ground has been a fortress in recent CAF campaigns, with Sundowns unbeaten at Loftus Versfeld in the Champions League over the past two seasons.
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Cardoso has prioritised control, structure, and squad depth, with Sundowns’ experienced core and fluid attacking profile giving them a clear advantage heading into Group C. They begin alongside MC Alger and Al Hilal in what is expected to be a competitive but navigable group.
Saint-Éloi Lupopo arrive with growing confidence after eliminating Orlando Pirates in the qualifying rounds, a result that turned continental attention toward the DR Congo club. Lupopo are one of the oldest and best-supported teams in Congolese football and have shown steady improvement in recent domestic seasons. Their ability to frustrate opponents and strike in transitions was evident in the Pirates tie, and they are expected to adopt a similar approach in Pretoria.
For Sundowns, the challenge is to avoid early complacency. Their depth and quality make them favourites to win the group, but opening-round fixtures have historically produced surprises. A strong start would reinforce their aim of returning to the latter stages of the competition after last season’s narrow defeat in the final.
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Elsewhere in the first round, several heavyweight fixtures headline the weekend: Al Hilal vs MC Alger, Young Africans vs AS FAR, Al Ahly vs JS Kabylie, ES Tunis vs Stade Malien, Pyramids FC vs Rivers United, RSB Berkane vs Power Dynamos, and Simba vs Petro de Luanda. Giants like Al Ahly, ES Tunis and Berkane will look to assert early authority as the group phase begins.
For Cardoso’s side, however, Saturday offers a chance to set the tone. A confident performance at Loftus will place Sundowns firmly among the teams to beat in this year’s CAF Champions League.
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