CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup draws to launch 2026-27 continental campaigns

The preliminary-round draws for the 2026-27 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League and TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup will take place on Thursday, 6 August, at the headquarters of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in Cairo, Egypt.

The ceremony will determine the first opponents for clubs beginning their bids to reach the group stages of Africa’s two leading club competitions. It will also mark the formal start of another season of continental football, with teams from across the continent entering the opening phase of their campaigns.

The TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup draw will be held first at 14:00 Cairo time (11:00 GMT). The TotalEnergies CAF Champions League draw will follow one hour later, at 15:00 Cairo time (12:00 GMT).

Both draws will be broadcast live on CAF TV, giving supporters across Africa the opportunity to see which clubs will meet in the preliminary rounds and follow the first pairings on the route towards continental silverware.

The financial rewards have also been confirmed. The winners of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League will receive USD 6 million, while the champions of the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup will earn USD 4 million.

Clubs knocked out during the preliminary rounds will each receive a USD 100,000 solidarity payment. CAF says the measure forms part of its ongoing effort to support participating clubs and further strengthen its interclub competitions.

The opening rounds have regularly provided high-stakes drama, with established African football powers facing determined challengers hoping to make an early impression on the continental stage. The latest campaign is expected to produce another series of demanding ties as clubs from every part of Africa begin their pursuit of success.

South Africa will have two representatives in the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.

Reigning champions Mamelodi Sundowns will return to the competition aiming to defend the title they won last season. They will be joined by Betway Premiership champions Orlando Pirates, who will also learn their opening opponents when the draw is made.

South Africa’s representatives in the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup will be Kaizer Chiefs and Durban City.

The Confederation Cup was won last season by USM Alger of Algeria, who claimed the title ahead of the new campaign. Kaizer Chiefs and Durban City will now begin their own attempts to progress through the preliminary rounds and compete for the trophy.

The two draws will therefore provide the first competitive details of the 2026-27 continental season, identifying the opening obstacles for clubs seeking places in the group stages and, ultimately, a chance to compete for Africa’s premier club honours.