Orlando Pirates Draw RS Berkane, Simba and Colombe in CAF Champions League Group C

Orlando Pirates have been drawn alongside Morocco’s RS Berkane, Tanzanian giants Simba SC and Cameroon’s Colombe Sportive in Group C of the 2026/27 CAF Champions League.

The Buccaneers learned their fate following Wednesday’s group-stage draw in Cairo, Egypt, as the 16 remaining clubs discovered the route they must navigate in the battle for places in the quarter-finals.

Pirates are South Africa’s only remaining representatives in this season’s Champions League following the shock elimination of defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns by Angola’s Wiliete SC during the preliminary rounds.

Now the Soweto giants face six matches that will test their continental ambitions against opposition from North, East and Central Africa.

Pirates handed intriguing Group C

GROUP C

🇲🇦 RS Berkane
🇹🇿 Simba SC
🇿🇦 Orlando Pirates
🇨🇲 Colombe Sportive

It is a group containing very different levels of Champions League experience.

Pirates return to the group stage as former African champions, having won the competition in 1995 and reached another final in 2013.

They secured their place in this season’s group stage with an emphatic 5-0 aggregate victory over Namibia’s African Stars in the final qualifying round.

Their reward is a group featuring one of Morocco’s emerging continental powers and one of East Africa’s biggest clubs.

RS Berkane pose major North African test

RS Berkane are likely to provide one of Pirates’ toughest examinations.

The Moroccan side have developed into one of Africa’s strongest continental performers in recent years, winning the CAF Confederation Cup three times and reaching the CAF Champions League semi-finals last season.

Berkane qualified for this season’s group stage with a comfortable 3-0 aggregate victory over Sierra Leone’s Star Sport Academy.

Pirates’ trips to Morocco have historically provided difficult assignments, meaning their away encounter against Berkane could prove particularly important in determining the shape of Group C.

Simba bring East African firepower

Then there is Simba.

The Tanzanian giants arrive in the group stage in impressive fashion after demolishing Equatorial Guinea’s 15 de Agosto 9-1 on aggregate in qualifying.

Simba are making their seventh Champions League group-stage appearance and have become regular contenders in CAF competition.

They have reached the Champions League quarter-finals four times in the modern era and were runners-up in the CAF Confederation Cup in 2024/25.

Pirates can therefore expect a huge atmosphere when they travel to Dar es Salaam.

The clash could also become one of the most attractive fixtures in the group for supporters across Southern and East Africa.

Colombe enter as the unknown quantity

Cameroonian champions Colombe Sportive complete Group C and could prove to be its wildcard.

They are making their Champions League group-stage debut after eliminating Senegal’s Teungueth FC 3-0 on aggregate in the final qualifying round.

Colombe have won consecutive Cameroonian league titles and are beginning to establish themselves as a rising force in their domestic game.

They may lack the continental experience of Pirates, Berkane and Simba, but their qualification campaign suggests they should not be underestimated.

Pirates now carry South Africa’s hopes

The pressure on Pirates has increased following Sundowns’ unexpected departure from the competition.

Sundowns entered the tournament as defending champions but were eliminated by Wiliete following a 1-1 draw in Pretoria after the first leg had ended goalless in Angola.

That leaves Pirates carrying South Africa’s flag alone in Africa’s premier club competition.

The Buccaneers are no strangers to continental pressure.

They became the first South African club to win Africa’s premier club competition in 1995 and returned to the final in 2013.

Their challenge now is to convert that history into another serious run at the trophy.

Full CAF Champions League draw

GROUP A

🇹🇳 Espérance de Tunis
🇦🇴 Petro Atlético
🇲🇷 FC Nouadhibou
🇦🇴 Wiliete SC

GROUP B

🇪🇬 Zamalek SC
🇹🇿 Young Africans
🇩🇿 MC Alger
🇹🇳 Club Africain

GROUP C

🇲🇦 RS Berkane
🇹🇿 Simba SC
🇿🇦 Orlando Pirates
🇨🇲 Colombe Sportive

GROUP D

🇪🇬 Pyramids FC
🇸🇩 Al Hilal SC
🇬🇳 Horoya AC
🇲🇦 MAS de Fès

The group stage gets underway in November, with matches played on a home-and-away basis.

The opening matchday is scheduled for 27–29 November, followed by Matchday Two from 4–6 December and Matchday Three from 18–20 December.

Competition resumes after the festive break, with the final three rounds taking place in January.

The top two teams from each group advance to the CAF Champions League quarter-finals.

For Pirates, six matches now stand between them and the knockout stages.

RS Berkane. Simba. Colombe Sportive.

The Buccaneers know their opponents. Now the continental battle begins.