TotalEnergies CAF Champions League Second Preliminary Round gets underway this weekend

The Second Preliminary Round of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League 2026/27 will get underway this weekend. 

Thirty-two (32) Clubs remain in contention for the 16 places available in the Group Stage, with defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns, former winners Espérance, TP Mazembe and Orlando Pirates among the leading sides seeking to take another step towards Africa's most prestigious club football prize.

Defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns begin their campaign with a trip to Angola to face Wiliete, who underlined their attacking credentials by defeating Seychelles' Foresters FC 5-0 on aggregate in the opening round.

Four-time champions Espérance Sportive de Tunis also enter the competition at this stage, travelling to Libya to face Al-Swehly while Egypt's Pyramids FC face South Sudan's El Merriekh Bentiu after producing one of the most convincing performances of the First Preliminary Round.

One of the standout ties of the round takes place in Lubumbashi, where five-time African champions TP Mazembe host Tunisia's Club Africain in a meeting between two clubs with distinguished continental histories.

Both sides will be determined to secure an advantage ahead of the return leg in Tunisia, with the prospect of a group-stage place providing added significance to the encounter.

Elsewhere, South Africa's Orlando Pirates will play African Stars, while Morocco's RS Berkane, who received a bye into the Second Preliminary Round, begin their campaign away to Sierra Leone's Star Sport Academy.

Egyptian giants Zamalek face a challenging trip to Rwanda to meet APR FC, who produced an impressive comeback in the previous round.

Zamalek, meanwhile, progressed with a commanding 6-1 aggregate victory over Djibouti's AS Port and will be aiming to carry that form into the next stage.

Tanzania's Young Africans travel to Madagascar to face CFFA, while compatriots Simba SC host Equatorial Guinea's 15 de Agosto.

There will also be considerable interest in Nigeria, where Rangers International host Algeria's MC Alger while Morocco's Maghreb Fès welcome Côte d'Ivoire's ASEC Mimosas, with San Pedro hosting Mauritania's FC Nouadhibou.

Guinea's Horoya AC face Sudanese giants Al-Merriekh after overcoming Algeria's JS Saoura in the previous round, while Ethiopia's Sidama Bunna meet Sudan's Al Hilal Omdurman.

Zimbabwe's Scottland FC host Angola's Petro Atlético, while Senegal's Teungueth FC face Cameroon's Colombe Sportive.

The first-leg matches will be played from 16–18 October, with the return fixtures scheduled for 23–25 October, when the 16 clubs advancing to the group stage will be confirmed.

With several of Africa's most established clubs facing ambitious opponents seeking to make their mark on the continental stage, the opening legs promise closely fought encounters across the continent.

CAF's financial support measures will also see clubs eliminated in the preliminary rounds receive USD 100,000 to assist with travel and logistical expenses, as part of efforts to support participation in its interclub competitions.

TotalEnergies CAF Champions League 2026/27 – Second Preliminary Round fixtures

Friday, 16 October

·       El Merriekh Bentiu (South Sudan) vs Pyramids FC (Egypt)

·       APR FC (Rwanda) vs Zamalek (Egypt)

·       Star Sport Academy (Sierra Leone) vs RS Berkane (Morocco)

Saturday, 17 October

·       CFFA (Madagascar) vs Young Africans (Tanzania)

·       African Stars (Namibia) vs Orlando Pirates (South Africa)

·       TP Mazembe (DR Congo) vs Club Africain (Tunisia)

·       15 de Agosto (Equatorial Guinea) vs Simba SC (Tanzania)

·       San Pedro (Côte d'Ivoire) vs FC Nouadhibou (Mauritania)

Sunday, 18 October

·       Rangers International (Nigeria) vs MC Alger (Algeria)

·       Scottland FC (Zimbabwe) vs Petro Atlético (Angola)

·       Sidama Bunna (Ethiopia) vs Al Hilal Omdurman (Sudan)

·       Wiliete (Angola) vs Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)

·       Horoya AC (Guinea) vs Al-Merriekh (Sudan)

·       Al-Swehly (Libya) vs Espérance Sportive de Tunis (Tunisia)

·       Teungueth FC (Senegal) vs Colombe Sportive (Cameroon)

·       Maghreb Fès (Morocco) vs ASEC Mimosas (Côte d'Ivoire)

For more information on the TotalEnergies CAF Interclub competitions, visit CAFOnline.com.

-ENDS-

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