CAF Champions League Group C: Fixtures Locked In

The CAF Champions League group stage now has its working schedule, and Group C is where the execution begins. The draw has placed South Africa’s Orlando Pirates alongside Morocco’s RS Berkane, Tanzania’s Simba SC and Cameroon’s Colombe Sportive, and the fixtures are already mapped out: opening matches from 27 to 29 November 2026, Matchday Two from 4 to 6 December, and a third round from 18 to 20 December before the competition pauses and resumes in January.

That calendar leaves the four clubs with a narrow window to prepare, and the margins in this group look tight. With all four sides targeting qualification for the knockout rounds of Africa’s premier club competition, consistency across the six matchdays will decide who progresses. Every fixture carries weight in the standings. Dropped points early could prove costly as the campaign moves through December and into the new year.

The operational experience in the group sits mostly with two clubs. Orlando Pirates, the Soweto giants, arrive with considerable history in African club football and a clear objective: reach the knockout rounds. Their task is a practical one. The Buccaneers must deliver results both at home and away against three demanding opponents, and their presence in the group will be measured by whether they can sustain that level across the full schedule rather than in isolated performances.

RS Berkane bring the most recent continental pedigree. The Moroccan side reached the semi-finals last season and will look to build on that run with another deep campaign. Berkane have positioned themselves as a competitive force in African football over recent years, and their assignment now is to navigate the group successfully and convert that reputation into a knockout-stage place. Their fixtures against Pirates could shape the top of the standings.

Meanwhile, Simba SC enter with a new operator in charge. Steve Barker, the South African coach and former Stellenbosch FC boss, has been tasked with leading Simba’s continental campaign against some of Africa’s established clubs. His appointment adds a distinct dimension to the group, and his remit is straightforward: challenge for one of the qualification spots. Simba’s encounters with Pirates and Berkane may prove decisive in that race, and the club will be eager to demonstrate its quality and make a strong impression under Barker’s guidance.

Colombe Sportive complete the group, and their situation is different in kind. The Cameroonian club made history by reaching the CAF Champions League group stage for the first time, and everything that follows is a debut. The campaign offers Colombe a chance to showcase their quality on the continental stage and test themselves against more experienced opposition. The task ahead is difficult, but the club will be determined to compete for a knockout place from the outset rather than simply participate.

How the group unfolds will depend on execution from the first matchday. Pirates and Berkane can draw on accumulated continental experience; Simba, under Barker, will aim to disrupt the established names; and Colombe will hope to make the most of their historic first appearance at this stage. All four sides will be targeting positive starts when the competition gets underway in late November, aware that every point could prove crucial in the quest to reach the knockout stages and, ultimately, lift the CAF Champions League trophy.

The schedule is set, the opponents are known, and the preparation time is short. What remains is for the four clubs to deliver on the pitch, starting between 27 and 29 November, with the group’s qualification picture likely to take shape well before the January restart.