EXPLAINER: Draw procedures for TotalEnergies CAF Champions League 2026/27 Preliminary Rounds
The draw procedures for the Preliminary Rounds of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League 2026/27 have been confirmed, with 61 clubs entered in Africa’s premier club competition.
The continent’s 3 highest-ranked clubs – Mamelodi Sundowns FC of South Africa, Espérance Sportive de Tunis and RS Berkane of Morocco – have been exempted from the First Preliminary Round.
The remaining 58 clubs will contest 29 two-legged ties, with the winners joining the three exempted teams in the 32-team Second Preliminary Round. Clubs have been divided into five levels based on their performances in CAF competitions and their ranking.
The three exempted clubs make up Level 1 and will enter the competition in the Second Preliminary Round, where they will face opponents from the group of non-ranked clubs.
Level 2 contains 10 of the highest-ranked clubs, including Atlético Petróleos of Angola, Orlando Pirates of South Africa, Simba SC and Young Africans of Tanzania, Zamalek SC and Pyramids FC of Egypt, Al Hilal of Sudan, ASEC Mimosas of Côte d’Ivoire, Stade Malien of Mali and MC Alger of Algeria.
These clubs will enter in the First Preliminary Round against non-ranked opposition, with the winners advancing to another tie against a non-ranked club in the next stage.
Six ranked clubs have been placed in Level 3, while the six lowest-ranked clubs make up Level 4. These teams will be paired against one another in the First Preliminary Round, with the winners meeting in the next stage.
The remaining 36 non-ranked clubs form Level 5 and will be drawn against higher-ranked opponents across the two preliminary rounds. Five draw pots have been created, taking geographical proximity into consideration and reducing travel demands on participating clubs.
During the draw, clubs will be selected from the relevant pots to form the First Preliminary Round fixtures. Unless otherwise stipulated, the first club drawn will host the first leg of the fixture.
The winners of selected ties will advance to face the exempted clubs in the Second Preliminary Round. Mamelodi Sundowns, RS Berkane and Espérance will host the return legs of their respective Second Preliminary Round fixtures.
The procedure will also determine the possible Second Preliminary Round pairings in advance, providing clubs with a clear route through the opening stages of the competition.
Non-ranked clubs drawn against ranked opposition will host the first leg of the First Preliminary Round.
Two clubs from the same country cannot be paired against each other. Should such a pairing occur during the draw, the club drawn will be moved to the following fixture and another club selected in its place.
The 16 winners of the Second Preliminary Round ties will advance to the group stage of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League 2026/27.