Pyramids FC have become Africa’s highest-ranked football club in the latest Opta Power Rankings, edging past fellow Egyptians Al Ahly with a rating of 83.1.

The rankings, last updated on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, place Al Ahly second on 82.8, a margin of just 0.3 points. Tanzania’s Young Africans are third on 81.1. The assessment gives a snapshot of where African clubs stand against thousands of teams worldwide, as preparations intensify for the Champions League group stage.

How Opta Ranks the Clubs

The Opta Power Rankings measure the strength of more than 13,500 men’s domestic teams worldwide, alongside over 2,500 women’s clubs. Each team receives a rating on a scale of zero to 100, representing its estimated playing strength relative to every other club.

The model allows teams from different leagues and competitions to be compared on one scale, without relying solely on league standings or trophy records. That is why a ranking can diverge from what happens in any single competition.

Africa’s Leading Clubs Head Into the Group Stage

Pyramids, Young Africans and Morocco’s RS Berkane are among the continent’s strongest clubs in the latest assessment, and all three have secured places in the 16-team CAF Champions League group stage.

Pyramids have been drawn in Group D with Sudan’s Al Hilal Omdurman, Guinea’s Horoya AC and Morocco’s MAS de Fès. Young Africans are in Group B against Egypt’s Zamalek, Algeria’s MC Alger and Tunisia’s Club Africain. RS Berkane will face Tanzania’s Simba SC, South Africa’s Orlando Pirates and Cameroon’s Colombe Sportive in Group C.

Sundowns Fall Early

The biggest talking point before the group stage is the elimination of defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns. The South African giants were knocked out by Angola’s Wiliete SC, who reached the group stage for the first time in historic fashion by progressing on away goals.

Despite the early exit, Sundowns still sit seventh in the Opta African rankings. The gap between their rating and their result shows the difference between a club’s estimated overall strength and how it performs in a particular competition, where one tie can undo a season’s ambitions.

Group Stage Starts November 27

The 2026/27 Champions League group stage begins on November 27, with 16 clubs divided into four groups. The top two in each group advance to the quarter-finals, and the group phase is expected to run through January 2027.

The final is scheduled for May 2027, and CAF has confirmed that the eventual champions will receive US$6 million in prize money.