Africa’s elite learn their path to the group stages of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League 2026/27
Defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns will meet either Wiliete from Angola or Foresters FC of Seychelles in the Second Preliminary Round of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League 2026/27 after the draw was made for the opening two stages of the competition in Cairo on Thursday.
The path to the summit of African club football has been revealed, setting the stage for dramatic contests, testing journeys and dreams of continental glory, as well as a record USD 6 million that is waiting for the club that is crowned champion of Africa.
CAF will also provide clubs eliminated in the Preliminary Rounds with a USD 100,000 subvention to assist with travel and other logistical costs, ensuring that even those whose campaigns end early receive financial support.
A total of 61 clubs have entered the competition, with Sundowns, Espérance Sportive de Tunis from Tunisia and Morocco’s RS Berkane receiving byes into the Second Preliminary Round.
Sundowns, who defeated AS FAR 2-1 on aggregate to claim their second continental crown last season, will hope to go back-to-back in this year’s competition.
South African rivals Orlando Pirates must start one round earlier with an away tie against Mauritian debutants La Cure Waves. Should Pirates advance, they will face either AS Mangasport of Gabon or Namibia’s African Stars for a place in the group stage.
Espérance will await the winners of the opening-round encounter between Libya’s Swehly SC and KVZ FC of Zanzibar, while RS Berkane will face either Sierra Leone’s Star Sport Academy or Medina United of The Gambia.
Several other continental heavyweights face potentially testing routes into the group stage.
Egyptian giants Zamalek will begin away to AS Port of Djibouti, with the winners advancing to meet Aigles du Congo of DR Congo or Rwanda’s APR FC.
Pyramids FC have been paired with Kenyan champions Gor Mahia in the First Preliminary Round. The winners will take on either El Merriekh Bentiu of South Sudan or Somalia’s Heegan SC.
East African rivals Simba SC and Young Africans both face trips to the COSAFA region. Simba will take on Malawi’s Mighty Wanderers, while Young Africans meet Botswana representatives Gaborone United.
Former champions TP Mazembe face Ghana’s Medeama in another attractive First Preliminary Round tie. The winners will then meet either Tunisia’s Club Africain or Djoliba AC of Mali.
Sudan’s Al Hilal begin against Aigle Noir of Burundi, while MC Alger travel to face Niger’s ASN Nigelec. ASEC Mimosas of Côte d’Ivoire will take on ASCK of Togo, and Angola’s Atlético Petróleos meet Mozambique’s UD do Songo.
The First Preliminary Round opening legs will be played from September 4-6, with the return fixtures from September 11-13.
The Second Preliminary Round first legs are scheduled for October 16-18, followed by the decisive return matches from October 23-25.
The 16 winners will advance to the group stage, which begins at the end of November.
First Preliminary Round
Wiliete (Angola) vs Foresters FC (Seychelles)
Scottland FC (Zimbabwe) vs Nsingizini Hotspurs (Eswatini)
UD do Songo (Mozambique) vs Atlético Petróleos (Angola)
AS Mangasport (Gabon) vs African Stars (Namibia)
La Cure Waves (Mauritius) vs Orlando Pirates FC (South Africa)
15 de Agosto (Equatorial Guinea) vs Fomboni FC (Comoros)
Mighty Wanderers (Malawi) vs Simba SC (Tanzania)
CFFA (Madagascar) vs Lijabatho FC (Lesotho)
Gaborone United FC (Botswana) vs Young Africans SC (Tanzania)
Swehly SC (Libya) vs KVZ FC (Zanzibar)
Aigles du Congo (DR Congo) vs APR FC (Rwanda)
AS Port (Djibouti) vs Zamalek SC (Egypt)
El Merriekh Bentiu (South Sudan) vs Heegan SC (Somalia)
Gor Mahia FC (Kenya) vs Pyramids FC (Egypt)
Aiglons FC (Chad) vs Sidaama Buna (Ethiopia)
Aigle Noir CS (Burundi) vs Al Hilal SC (Sudan)
Star Sport Academy (Sierra Leone) vs Medina United FC (The Gambia)
MAS de Fès (Morocco) vs Rahimo FC (Burkina Faso)
ASCK (Togo) vs ASEC Mimosas (Côte d’Ivoire)
FC Canchungo (Guinea-Bissau) vs Teungueth FC (Senegal)
Colombe Sportive (Cameroon) vs Stade Malien (Mali)
Rangers International FC (Nigeria) vs SOBEMAP FC (Benin)
ASN Nigelec (Niger) vs MC Alger (Algeria)
FC San Pedro (Côte d’Ivoire) vs Rivers United (Nigeria)
Vipers SC (Uganda) vs FC Nouadhibou (Mauritania)
JS Saoura (Algeria) vs Horoya AC (Guinea)
Al Merriekh SC (Sudan) vs Power Dynamos (Zambia)
Medeama SC (Ghana) vs TP Mazembe (DR Congo)
Club Africain (Tunisia) vs Djoliba AC (Mali)
Second Preliminary Round
Wiliete or Foresters FC vs Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)
Scottland FC or Nsingizini Hotspurs vs UD do Songo or Atlético Petróleos
AS Mangasport or African Stars vs La Cure Waves or Orlando Pirates
15 de Agosto or Fomboni FC vs Mighty Wanderers or Simba SC
CFFA or Lijabatho FC vs Gaborone United FC or Young Africans SC
Swehly SC or KVZ FC vs Espérance Sportive de Tunis (Tunisia)
Aigles du Congo or APR FC vs AS Port or Zamalek SC
El Merriekh Bentiu or Heegan SC vs Gor Mahia FC or Pyramids FC
Aiglons FC or Sidaama Buna vs Aigle Noir CS or Al Hilal SC
Star Sport Academy or Medina United FC vs RS Berkane (Morocco)
MAS de Fès or Rahimo FC vs ASCK or ASEC Mimosas
FC Canchungo or Teungueth FC vs Colombe Sportive or Stade Malien
Rangers International FC or SOBEMAP FC vs ASN Nigelec or MC Alger
FC San Pedro or Rivers United vs Vipers SC or FC Nouadhibou
JS Saoura or Horoya AC vs Al Merriekh SC or Power Dynamos
Medeama SC or TP Mazembe vs Club Africain or Djoliba AC
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