Andrew Olsson
November 20, 2025CAF Champions League Preview: Group D
Esperance de Tunis celebrate during a victory in the qualifying stages. Photo: Esperance Sportive de Tunis
CAF Champions League Preview: Group D
The 2025-26 CAF Champions League group stage begins this weekend and Africa’s premier club competition has plenty of familiar top clubs as well as some new faces taking part this season.
Pan-Africa Football is previewing all four groups and to end our series of group previews, we examine Group D. An intriguing mix of teams is led by Tunisian champions Espérance de Tunis, who are the favorites to win the group but will have to be wary of the danger posed by Tanzania’s Simba SC, 2021-22 Champions League semifinalists Petro de Luanda of Angola and Malian giants Stade Malien.
Espérance de Tunis
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Introduction
The club based in Tunisia’s capital city of Tunis dominated their domestic football scene last season, winning every competition including the Tunisia Ligue 1 Professionnelle as well as the Coupe de Tunisie. Winners of back-to-back CAF Champions League at the 2018 and 2019 editions, the “Blood and Gold” have struggled to return to those heights, with their best recent performance being a runner-up finish to Egyptian giants Al Ahly in 2024.
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Now led by former Tunisia national team midfielder Maher Kanzari, EST have rebuilt their squad with an emphasis on improving the attack. With a group of foreign attackers supported by a strong defensive foundation, the mission is clear: To overcome clubs like Al Ahly, Pyramids FC, RS Berkane and Mamelodi Sundowns to bring the Champions League trophy back to Tunis.
Key Players
Yassine Meriah
A towering central defender who is known for his ability in the air and his leadership abilities, Meriah returned to Tunisia with Esperance in 2022 after a devastating knee injury ended four years of time spent abroad in Greece, Turkiye and the United Arab Emirates. After recovering, the now 32-year-old picked up where he left off by thriving at Esperance and earning his way back into the Tunisia national team, with whom he performed well at the 2022 World Cup.
Florian Danho
The French striker arrived with much fanfare this season from Danish club Randers FC, with Esperance supporters hoping that the powerful goal scorer can be the reliable striker they have lacked. After a strong start with goals in his first two matches, however, Danho has not proceeded to dominate as expected. With a lack of notable strikers in the EST squad, Danho will be given a fair chance but criticism will grow if he does not recover his form in front of goal.
Mohamed Ben Hamida
The reliable and experienced left back is one of the team leaders for Esperance. Always excellent in possession with strong crossing ability and intelligent runs forward, Ben Hamida is a constant presence on the left flank and continues to be one of Esperance’s most important players.
Yan Sasse
A Brazilian playmaker with a magical left foot, Sasse emerged as a prominent member of the Esperance squad after joining in 2023 following spells in Australia’s A-League as well as time spent with Coritiba and Vasco da Gama in his native country. Yan Sasse has become a beloved player at the club in his third season and his skill on set pieces is a very valuable asset to the Blood and Gold.
Simba SC (TZA)
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Introduction
A massively popular club based in Dar es Salaam, Simba SC regularly battle with rivals Young Africans for superiority in the Tanzania Mainland Premier League. However, even with a run to the final of last season’s CAF Confederation Cup, the Reds have continued to play second fiddle to their rivals with the last domestic league title coming at the conclusion of the 2020-21 season.
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Following the departure of South African coach Fadlu Davids to Casablanca club Raja CA, Simba have turned to Bulgarian coach Dimitar Pantev to bring success to the club. Undefeated in his first several games with the club and with a few notable signings, Pantev and his team are fully equipped to attempt a deep run in the Champions League where Simba have never progressed beyond the quarterfinals.
Key Players
Jonathan Sowah
The Ghanaian, who previously played in the Champions League with Medeama SC a couple of years ago, moved on to dominate Tanzanian football with Singida Black Stars before completing a big money move to Simba. A strong striker with a powerful frame, Sowah is a nightmare for defenders to mark. While dominating smaller clubs in Tanzania is one thing, Sowah has the potential to thrive against Africa’s top clubs with Simba as opposed to their other options at the forward position.
Shomari Kapombe
The undisputed leader in the Simba squad remains a valuable player at the right back position, where he can provide assists for attackers while being an inspiration to the younger players. Also a prominent player in the Tanzania national team, Kapombe’s leadership will be valuable as Simba attempts to reach new heights on the continental stage.
Rushine De Reuck
A former member of Mamelodi Sundowns, injuries and a disastrous loan move to Israel saw the fierce central defender leave Sundowns rather quietly. Now at Simba, the 29-year-old South African is back to being an important player and is off to an excellent start. Already viewed as a leader within the team, De Reuck has top experience in this competition from his time with Sundowns and has proven that he is more than capable of competing with the best attackers in African club football when in good form.
Elie Mpanzu
Unmatched brilliance from Mpanzu! 🔥
Simba SC’s star delivers a dazzling performance in the second leg of the #TotalEnergiesCAFCC final, earning him the @QNetOfficial #SkillOfTheDay! 👏 pic.twitter.com/xZqFQXfS2j
— TotalEnergies CAFCL & CAFCC 🏆 (@CAFCLCC) May 29, 2025
After joining Simba midway through last season, the Congolese attacker established himself as the most explosive member of the Reds’ attack with excellent pace and dribbling ability. Mpanzu has a flair for the spectacular and his ability to create brilliance out of nothing adds an element of unpredictability to the Simba attack.
Petro de Luanda (ANG)
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Introduction
A club based in the Angolan capital of Luanda, Atlético Petróleos de Luanda are by far the most dominant club in the country. With nineteen total domestic league titles in Angola’s top flight Girabola, Os Petroliferos have won the last four Girabola titles. A few years ago in the 2021-22 Champions League, the club upset Mamelodi Sundowns on their way to a surprise semifinal finish, equalling their best finish in the competition in 2001.
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Now led by Spanish coach Franc Artiga, a former youth coach at FC Barcelona’s La Masia academy, Petro are back in the Champions League group stage after being eliminated in the qualifying stages last season. Artiga will be under some pressure after a less than ideal start to the ongoing Girabola campaign, including a derby defeat to rivals Primeiro de Agosto in the last match before they begin Group D play.
Players to Watch
Tiago Reis
For a long time, Petro was led by prolific Brazilian goal scorer Tiago Azulao who departed the club following the 2024-25 season. It appears that Os Tricolores have not had to wait too long for a suitable replacement with Tiago Reis’ arrival. The Brazilian, who was most recently with Portuguese club Chaves and developed with Vasco da Gama, has gotten off to an electric start with eight goals and an assist in eleven matches so far.
Benny
Petro continue to closely scout Portuguese club football for technical players willing to make the move to Angola and Benny is among the recent recruits. A central attacking midfielder, the former Benfica youth player has also spent time in Cyprus and Azerbaijan before making to move to Luanda where he has gotten off to a strong start.
Pedro Aparicio
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Another Portuguese midfielder who joined ahead of last season, Aparicio is another player whose technical abilities add to the Petro attack with a successful debut season that saw him win the Girabola’s Player of the Season award. After many years spent in the lower leagues of Portuguese club football, the now 30-year-old made his breakthrough with Moreirense by helping the club to a championship in the second division. Along with Benny and former Honduras international Jonathan Toro, Petro has plenty of attacking options in the midfield.
Hugo Marques
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The 39-year-old goalkeeper is enjoying a late career revival at Petro since joining the club in 2022. The Portuguese-born shot stopper quickly gained the starting position and his strong play with the Angolan champions has seen Marques recalled to the Angola national team, with whom he played against Argentina and Lionel Messi in a November friendly to celebrate 50 years of independence in Angola.
Stade Malien (MLI)
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Introduction
The historic club based in the capital of Bamako are back at the summit of Malian football. A dominant 2024-25 season saw Les Stadistes capture both the Malian top flight as well as the Coupe du Mali (highlights below) over rivals Djoliba AC to complete a domestic double for the first time since the 2020-21 season.
Despite the five-year title drought in the league, Stade Malien continued to find success in the Coupe which has allowed them to remain relevant on the continental stage. They reached the group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup in the last two editions, advancing to the quarterfinals during the 2023-24 edition before bowing out at the group stage last season. A famous club known as the starting point of legendary late Malian football Salif Keïta (father of former Barcelona and Mali player Seydou), Les Blancs have won 24 Malian top flight titles and also won the 2009 Confederation Cup.
Key Players
Taddeus Nkeng
A truly nomadic player who has represented clubs on three different continents, the versatile Cameroonian forward has gotten off to a dream start with Stade Malien since joining from Gabonese club FC Libreville. Nkeng scored on his competitive debut in the first round of qualifying and has already found the net four times ahead of the group stage in the CAF Champions League. Capable of playing centrally or on either flank, he began his career playing with the reserve team of Portuguese giants FC Porto before spending time in Venezuela, Ukraine (video above) and Finland.
Ousmane Coulibaly “Kalaba”
La performance exceptionnelle d’Ousmane Coulibaly, Kalaba, auteur de deux buts et d’une passe décisive contre son ancien club, a permis une victoire décisive pour le Stade Malien de Bamako #Kalaba #OusmaneCoulibaly #Performance #StadeMalien #Ligue1Mali #Reprise #But #XXL pic.twitter.com/W8w98a3KA5
— BERTHE Djakardia (@BERTHEDjack17) April 30, 2025
A 23-year-old forward who, like Nkeng, can operate anywhere on the forward line, “Kalaba” is beginning to find consistency in his game after being a promising young talent for several years in Malian football. After spending his first several seasons as a professional with rivals Djoliba AC, Kalaba took his talents to Stade Malien where he has played a key role in helping the club regain local dominance. Has also represented the Mali national team, scoring a goal at the 2022 African Nations Championship (CHAN).
Mamadou Traoré
The diminutive attacking midfielder has spent most of his career at Stade Malien, and currently serves as the captain. The 26-year-old left the club on two occasions to pursue transfers abroad, but returned on both occasions after spending one season in the Turkish second division earlier his career before trying his luck at Algerian giants JS Kabylie for the 2023-24 season. Was previously a key player for the Mali U-20 national team, scoring two goals at the 2019 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations as Mali won the tournament before also featuring at the U-20 World Cup.
Dramane Traoré
An enterprising left back, the 24-year-old impressed with Stade Malien in the CAF Confederation Cup over the last two seasons with consistently strong performances in the group stage. Traoré will add to the danger that Stade Malien poses on the flanks, making Les Blancs a team that could surprise their Group D opponents.
