Review of the CAF Champions League Group Stage Draw

The draw for the group stage of the CAF Champions League took place on October 28, 2026. Live coverage began at 16:10 UTC, also available on RFI's YouTube channel. This event featured a discussion on the draw for African cups, the candidacy of a Cameroonian for the FIFA presidency, and the remarkable performance of a small English club in the League Cup.

Notably, the defending champions, Mamelodi Sundowns, were eliminated in the preliminary round by Wiliete SC from Angola. Additionally, TP Mazembe did not qualify, having been knocked out by another African club. ASEC Mimosas will also be absent from the competition.

The group stage consists of 16 clubs divided into four groups of four teams each. Among the favorites to advance are Éspérance de Tunis, RS Berkane, as well as two Egyptian clubs: Pyramids FC and Zamalek.

Regarding the FIFA presidency, Cameroonian Jean Crépin Soter Nyamsi announced his candidacy in Paris on the same day, outlining his project focused on battling corruption, ensuring transparency, fostering more ethical management, and promoting fairer football. He criticized the current term of Italian-Swiss leader Gianni Infantino as illegal, and he has until November 18 to secure at least five endorsements to validate his candidacy.

The discussion also covered the support for the incumbent president amid dissensions within the AFC, as the Asian Football Confederation had previously joined UEFA and CONCACAF to denounce a commercial project related to FIFA competitions, which was ultimately abandoned. However, the AFC appears to have reversed its stance and now supports Infantino, indicating possible fissures in unity.

In the League Cup, Fleetwood Town, a small club from northwestern England, made headlines by defeating the "real" Arsenal in the round of 16. With a fiery goalkeeper and a crucial miss from Bruno Guimarães during penalties, Fleetwood's Cod Army, situated in the fourth division, secured their place in the quarterfinals of the competition. This defeat allows Arsenal to concentrate on their seasonal priorities.

The discussion featured various commentators including Annie Gasnier, Youssouf Mulumbu, Yoro Mangara, and Nabil Djellit, moderated by Laurent Salerno and prepared by Pierre Guérin.