Orlando Pirates have been ranked as the second most valuable club in the group stage of the 2026/27 CAF Champions League, according to figures released by Transfermarkt. The Soweto side’s squad is valued at €21.7 million, placing them just behind Egyptian club Pyramids FC at €27.8 million. The Buccaneers are the only South African team to feature in the top 10 most valuable sides in the competition.

The ranking shows a clear pattern across the continent. Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia each have two clubs in the top 10. Esperance of Tunisia sit third with a squad value of €19.5 million, while Moroccan side RS Berkane are fourth at €17.8 million. Egypt’s Zamalek complete the top five at €13.7 million. Moroccan club MAS Fès (€13.3 million), Algeria’s MC Alger (€11.7 million) and Tunisia’s Club Africain (€9.2 million) also feature. Tanzanian side Young Africans (€4.8 million) and Angola’s Petro de Luanda (€4.4 million) round out the list.

For South African football, Pirates’ position stands out. While the country has a strong domestic league, no other local club made the top 10 in this season’s continental group stage. The Buccaneers’ squad value reflects continued investment in players despite recent departures of high-profile talents. Their ranking places them well ahead of most other African clubs competing in the group stage.

Pyramids FC’s top spot underlines the financial strength of Egyptian football. The club has grown rapidly in recent years and now leads the list of group-stage teams. North African clubs continue to dominate the upper end of the rankings, with six of the top eight sides coming from Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia. This points to higher levels of spending and player development in those leagues compared with many other regions on the continent.

The CAF Champions League group stage brings together 16 teams after the preliminary rounds. Defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns were knocked out earlier, meaning a new winner will be crowned at the end of the season. With a reported prize of $6 million on offer for the champions, the financial stakes remain high. Squad value is not the only measure of success, but it offers a useful guide to the resources available to clubs as they begin the group phase.

Pirates will now prepare for the group-stage draw knowing they enter the competition as one of the best-resourced sides outside of North Africa. Their second-place ranking gives local fans reason for optimism as the continent’s premier club competition gets under way.

Source: https://x.com/KickOffMagazine/status/2115787572903342456