African heavyweights await TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup draw in Cairo

Some of Africa’s biggest clubs will discover the first steps on their road towards continental success when the preliminary-round draw for the 2026-27 TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup is held in Cairo on Thursday.

Former African champions, domestic cup winners and emerging sides from across the continent will be involved as the competition begins another campaign renowned for dramatic ties and unexpected results.

Eight of the highest-ranked participating clubs have been given byes into the second preliminary round because of their CAF rankings and recent performances in continental competition.

Egyptian giants Al Ahly headline the list of exempted teams and will be joined by Algerian clubs USM Alger and CR Belouizdad.

Morocco’s AS FAR and Raja Casablanca have also received byes, alongside DR Congo’s AS Maniema Union, Zambia’s Power Dynamos and Tanzanian side Azam FC.

Those clubs will enter the competition in October and face teams that successfully negotiate the opening preliminary round.