Record Club Participation in the CAF Interclub Competition ahead of Saturday’s Preliminary Draw
A record-breaking 120 Football Clubs across the African Continent will participate in the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League and TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup 2025/26 season.
A total of 62 teams will contest the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League, while 58 will take part in the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup – the largest combined entry ever seen in CAF’s Interclub competitions.
CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe has announced a significant improvement in the financial support from USD 50 000 to USD 100 000 to clubs participating in the Preliminary Rounds.
The draw will take place on Saturday 09 August, 2025 at 13h00 local time (10h00 GMT) at Azam Media Studios in Dar Es Salaam and will be broadcast live on CAF’s YouTube channel and partner networks across Africa and the globe.
The 2025/26 campaign will feature a glittering cast of former champions, modern powerhouses and ambitious newcomers, promising a season of drama, passion and unforgettable moments.
Al Ahly of Egypt, the most decorated club in the competition’s history, return alongside their compatriots Pyramids FC, the defending champions.
Côte d’Ivoire’s illustrious duo ASEC Mimosas and Stade Abidjan are also back in the hunt, as are Algeria’s storied JS Kabylie, Moroccan heavyweights AS FAR and RS Berkane – the latter holders of the CAF Confederation Cup.
South African giants Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates add even more prestige to a line-up dripping with history.
In the TotalEnergies Confederation Cup, Egyptian titans Zamalek stand out among a diverse field of contenders ready to write their names into the continental record books.
The journey to glory will begin with the Preliminary Round, played over two legs on the weekends of 19–21 September and 26–28 September 2025. Victors will advance to the Second Preliminary Round on 17–19 October, with the return legs a week later from 24–26 October.
The successful sides will earn their place in the Group Stage, which kicks off on 21 November 2025.
From there, the best of the best will battle through to the knockout stage, starting on 13 March 2026, with the dream of lifting African football’s most coveted club trophies.
For more information about the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League, please visit www.cafonline.com.
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Further Inquiries: communications@cafonline.com
CAF | Communication Department