EXPLAINER: Draw procedures for TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup 2026/27 Preliminary Rounds
The draw procedures for the Preliminary Rounds of the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup 2026/27 have been confirmed, with 56 clubs entered in the continental competition.
The eight highest-ranked clubs have been exempted from the First Preliminary Round and will enter the competition at the Second Preliminary Round stage. The remaining 48 teams will contest 24 two-legged First Preliminary Round ties.
The winners will join the eight exempted teams to complete the 32-club line-up for the Second Preliminary Round.
The participating clubs have been divided into three levels based on their performances in CAF club competitions and their ranking.
Level 1 contains the eight exempted teams from the first stage: Al Ahly of Egypt, Azam FC of Tanzania, USM Alger and CR Belouizdad of Algeria, AS FAR and Raja Casablanca of Morocco, AS Maniema Union of DR Congo and Kaizer Chiefs of South Africa.
These clubs will enter in the Second Preliminary Round, where they will face teams that advance from the opening stage.
Level 2 is made up of eight ranked clubs that will compete from the First Preliminary Round, but will face teams from the lowest-ranked Level 3.
They are Al Ahly Tripoli of Libya, Singida Black Stars of Tanzania, CS Sfaxien of Tunisia, AS Real Bamako of Mali, ASKO de Kara of Togo, Jwaneng Galaxy of Botswana, Associação Black Bulls of Mozambique and Primeiro de Agosto of Angola.
Primeiro de Agosto were included among the ranked teams following consideration of their performances in seasons preceding the five-year period used for the current ranking. This was done to ensure an equal distribution of ranked and non-ranked clubs in the draw.
The remaining 40 non-ranked clubs make up Level 3 and will be drawn against one another or against clubs from Level 2 during the First Preliminary Round.
Three draw pots have been created, with geographical proximity taken into consideration to reduce travel demands on the participating clubs.
The first pot combines clubs from the East and North African regions, while the second has clubs from North Africa, Central Africa and the two West African football zones. The third combines clubs from Central, Eastern and Southern Africa.
During the draw, non-ranked clubs will initially be paired to form First Preliminary Round fixtures. The winners of selected ties will advance to face one of the eight exempted clubs in the Second Preliminary Round.
The first club drawn will host the opening leg of the First Preliminary Round. Where a non-ranked club is paired with a ranked team, the non-ranked side will host the first leg.
The exempted clubs will host the return legs of their Second Preliminary Round ties.
Two clubs from the same country cannot be paired against each other. Should such a pairing occur, the club drawn will be moved to the following fixture and another team selected in its place.
The draw will also determine the possible Second Preliminary Round fixtures, providing all participating clubs with a clear route through the opening stages of the competition.
The 16 winners of the Second Preliminary Round ties will advance to the group stage of the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup 2026/27.