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It's a different pressure
Soccer Laduma
|November 20, 2025
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers almost concluded, the bright lights of international football have dimmed, and the intense, passionate focus of a continent shifts back to its club rivalries.
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For fans across Africa, this means only one thing: the return of the CAF Champions League. The end of the national team break sees clubs officially begin their respective campaigns in the group stage. This week, the first matches of the 2025/26 iteration of the premier interclub competition are set to take place, and the stage is set for another enthralling, drama-filled season. We are down to Africa's best 16 club sides, a roster that represents a fascinating clash of eras. Established giants like Al Ahly, Mamelodi Sundowns, and recent winners Pyramids FC will be looking to further entrench their names in the tournament's annals
This story is from the November 20, 2025 edition of Soccer Laduma.
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